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PAGES: 68 VOL.5 | ISSUE: 9 | OCTOBER 2017

Rasamayi Balakishan faces flak

GHMC helping garbage vehicle scam plotters go scotfree

The News You Like | October, 2017

VOL:5 I SSUE:9 I OCTOBER, 2017 `30

Editor SUDHAKAR

Special Correspondent D Bal Reddy

Senior Correspondent Mallesh Babu Mattipati Yanadi Reddy Mandha Ravi Kumar

Reporters M.Praveen Kumar, P Vishnuvardhan Reddy

Photographers M Vijay S Sridhar, Shair Ali Baig

Cover & Layout T. Srinivasa Rao

General Manager Mohd Nizamuddin

Chief Executive (Marketing) Venkata K Ganjam (GK)

Chief - Business & LifeStyle K. Bharath Reddy

Marketing Associate M. Akhil Raj Shaker

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Any legal disputes comes under the jurisdiction of courts in Hyderabad

EDITORIAL

his image of Zohra, the five-year-old daughter of assistant sub-inspector Abdul Rashid killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, shows the plight of the state police personnel and their families.

The police personnel are second to none to any other paramilitary or military personnel in risking their lives. In fact, statistics indicate more than 1000 police personnel laid down their lives in the valley fighting the terrorists over the last two decades.

It means more than 1000 families lost their breadwinner, brother, father. But, none of the family members of those brave martyrs took to militancy, thankfully.

In December 2014, assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammad Akbar, Head Constable Abdul Majeed and Constable Sanjay Koul were killed when they rushed to help the Army as six heavily armed Fidayeen militants attacked the Mahura base camp. But their sacrifice were forgotten, felt their relatives. "Modi sahib just talked about armymen who were martyred. Wasn't my father also martyr? Didn't he die for the nation? Why didn't PM talk about him?" said Asifa, Mohammad Akbar's daughter.

Not just in Jammu and Kashmir. The picture is more or less same across the country. Local police, despite caught between their social obligations and call of the duty, always stay ahead to respond in times of crisis.

It is time the governments of respective states and even the center recognize the sacrifices of the police personnel and take concrete measures to improve their working conditions and living standards from this Police Martyrs Day on October 21. (Sudhakar)

CONTENTS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Rasamayi Balakishan faces flak

North zone cops lead with unique initiatives

Finally, TTD gets food safety licence

North zone police under the leadership of deputy commission of police, B Sumathi have taken up a number of novel initiatives as part of friendly policing and to transform Hyderabad into a global city.

GHMC helping garbage vehicle scam plotters go scotfree

Arya Vysyas up in arms against Kancha Ilaiah

10 30

CONTENTS

The News You Like | October, 2017

International alert for Honeypreet, Aditya

54 26 The Ganesh Chaturthi festival began with religious fervour in Hyderabad and across Telangana on August 25 with devotees thronging to temples and pandals to seek blessings of the deity.

Isha volunteers bat for Rally for Rivers at Osmansagar Volunteers of Isha Foundation have organized an awareness programme at Osmansagar Lake in Gandipet on account of World Rivers Day on September 24. The event was organized in response to the call given by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation, as part of Rally for Rivers programme.

Chandrayaan-I helps scientists map 44 water on Moon

Pak caught using fake photo at UN

CITY NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Metro Rail: first phase to be finished by Oct 15

THE NEWS BUREAU

yderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) authorities have said that they have set themselves a target of completing all construction work of Phase 1 of the project, by October 15. The authorities have also set November 15 as their target for obtaining safety certification from Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). Earlier, the Telangana government announced that the inauguration would take place on November 28. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though it took about 6 months to reassemble the thousands of dismantled steel pieces, which were brought from Ghaziabad to Secunderabad on special containers, but it took only 10 days to launch the mammoth 1100 ton Oliphenta steel bridge. Achieving such an engi-

neering feat in a crowded area is equal to setting a world record. Now the track works above the steel bridge is going on in full swing," HMRL Chief, NVS Reddy told media persons. Reddy's services were extended by one year, in June this year, by the Telangana government. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inviting him to inaugurate the first phase of the project. "Hyderabad Metro Rail is a prestigious Urban Elevated Mass Rapid Transit System, with over Rs 15,000 crore in capital investment and the largest project under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the country," the letter read. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As you have also kindly agreed to inaugurate the Global Entrepreneurs Summit being held in Hyderabad during November 28-

31, Hyderabad Metro Rail inauguration can also be scheduled during the same visit," the letter added. The entire project should have been completed and operational by July 2017 as per the concession agreement signed with the then united Andhra Pradesh government in 2010. However, the HMRL has said that the main reason for the delay was due to land acquisition issues, following which the deadline was revised. Despite facing hurdles, eight kilometres between Nagole and Mettuguda and 12 kilometres between Miyapur and SR Nagar have been ready for months. The first phase, which will be inaugurated, will stretch across 28 km from Nagole to Miyapur, via Ameerpet. As of now, the deadline to make the project fully operational is December 2018.

CITY NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

North zone cops lead with unique initiatives

THE NEWS BUREAU

orth zone police under the leadership of deputy commission of police, B Sumathi have taken up a number of novel initiatives as part of friendly policing and to transform Hyderabad into a global city. As part of this initiative, a unique programme titled ‘Kids ‘N’ Cops was organized a few days ago at Hari Hara Kala Bhavan in Secunderabad. About 1,500 children from 14 schools located in the North Zone limits – representing both Govern-

ment and Corporate Schools - have participated in the programme. The schools were divided into 6-groups and were given different scenario topics for the presentations. The platform has been utilized to showcase the talents of children as future leaders by scenario presentations exhibiting in groups, ‘their vision of transforming Hyderabad into a Global City’. Home Minister Naini Narasimha Reddy was the Chief Guest of the occasion, while eminent people including film director Sekhar Kammula were present on the occasion.

The topic “sustainable lifestyles - reducing waste”, presented by the team comprising students from St. Andrews High School, Bowenpally, Secunderabad and Government High School, Balamrai, Begumpet, Secunderabad, won the first place, the team comprising students of Mehboob High School, Patny road, Secunderabad and Geethanjali High School, Mayur Marg, Begumpet, Secunderabad won the second place with their presentation on the topic ‘women empowerment – No more a myth; it’s a reality”.

SPECIAL REPORT

The News You Like | October, 2017

Urban flooding caused by plastic clogging, poor drainage: Experts U

THE NEWS BUREAU

rban floods are entirely manmade with poorly maintained drains, plastic bags, shrinking open spaces and climate change contributing to accumulation of water on roads after a heavy downpour, experts say. They said that steps such as

rainwater harvesting, ban on use of plastic bags and better use of weather forecasts will go a long way in helping tackle flooding in cities after rains. Heavy downpours have been disrupting normal life in almost all metro cities in India, with Mumbai bearing the brunt last month which led to death of at least six persons.

Experts said a range of factors including rapid migration to urban areas and "lackadaisical attitude" of civic authorities were among the factors that contribute to cities coming to a standstill after heavy rains. They said citizens also have to behave responsibly and ensure that plastic bags or used food plates are

SPECIAL REPORT

The News You Like | October, 2017

Poor drainage and sewage system is the real cause of urban flooding. There is also migration to cities which often leads to land encroachment and exerts pressure on the existing civic infrastructure

not thrown in the open or in the neighbourhood drains. V K Sharma, Senior Professor of Disaster Management at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), said the cities need a proper system of garbage collection and sewage disposal and regular cleaning of drains. "It is true that poor drainage and

sewage system is the real cause of urban flooding. There is also migration to cities which often leads to land encroachment and exerts pressure on the existing civic infrastructure," Sharma said. Sharma said the urban planning has to have a long-term perspective and infrastructure should keep pace with growth of population. He said rain water harvesting should be made mandatory. "There is also the need of fixing accountability of government officials and municipal authorities if drains are not properly cleaned. Strict penalties should be imposed on people throwing garbage in the open," he said. He said steps have been taken at some places to ban use of plastic bag but it should be enforced strictly. "There is need to make people aware. This will also meet the larger goal of cleanliness," he said. Sharma said that prediction of the meteorological department are fairly accurate and authorities can issue timely alerts to people in case there is prediction of very heavy rainfall. "This will also help prevent loss of life," he said. Santosh Kumar, a professor at the National Institute of Disaster Management with expertise in disaster risk reduction and policy planning, said climate change was also a factor in cities getting excessive rainfall. "Urban flooding occurs when water flows into an urban region faster than it can be absorbed into

the soil. Earlier, a city received such amount of rainfall in two to three weeks," Kumar said, referring to Mumbai getting 350 mm rainfall on August 29-30. He said the cities do not have spaces to absorb the excess water or to store it. "Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and population growth have also contributed to drainage systems getting congested. These drains are not able to take the pressure of huge water accumulated due to heavy rain, leading to waterlogging," Kumar said. He said steps should be taken to improve garbage disposal and ensure that plastics do not find their way to drains. "Urban ecosystems comprising marshlands, wetlands, lakes and rivers have steadily deteriorated," Kumar added. Vinod Kumar Jain, director of NGO Tapas which works in revival of water bodies in Delhi, said "water harvesting can play a significant role in reducing the chances of flooding in urban areas." Rainwater harvesting refers to trapping and storing rainwater so that it can be used at a later time when the need arises. Heavy rainfall in Delhi last month had flooded roads and caused huge traffic snarls. On August 19, many parts of Chandigarh were flooded due to heavy rains. Chennai had witnessed severe flooding in 2015 while floods in Mumbai in 2005 had killed over 500 people.

NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Finally, TTD gets food safety licence

THE NEWS BUREAU

he Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), has at last obtained a license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its famous laddu and the food it distributes under the anna prasadam scheme. The FSSAI had also asked the Central Licensing Authority in Chennai to inspect the 'potu' used in preparing the temple's famous laddus. This order came after an application by a Bengaluru-based activist, T Narasimha Murthy, in December last year. Though equipped with a state-ofthe-art laboratory to certify the quality of the laddu and other anna prasadams prepared in the temple kitchen, the TTD did not have any central licence until recently. The TTD, which initially objected to the directive, changed its mind and applied for the licence

last month, following which it was granted. In his compliant, the activist reportedly wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cooks who are in preparation of these laddus in large quantity are found wearing no proper dress. They are working in half naked dress and found sweating due to heavy heat at the kitchen. These cooks are not wearing any hand glove, apron and other safety norms.â&#x20AC;? The laddu is a major source of the TTD's revenue and adds several crore rupees to its annual budget. It is made with flour, sugar, ghee, oil, cardamom and dry fruits.

However, objects like iron pins, key chains and even gutka packets were previously found in the

laddus. In 2016, a total of 10.46 crore laddus, were sold as 'prasadam'. In its 2017 budget, the TTD stated that the sale of laddus was expected to fetch Rs 165 crore. In 2015, the laddu entered its 300th year.

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

Cops act party a

FA PO T

D BAL REDDY

he Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the party in power in the state has been making hullabaloo about its priority to law and order in the state. Particularly, the

TRS chief and chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family has been spearheading this campaign and always showcase the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SHE teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in support of their commitment to safety of the people.

But it seems the police department, except for the work being turned out by the SHE teams, has attained notoriety for corruption and extra-judicial practices, often resorting to cruelty besides showing reluctance towards

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

t as ruling agents

EOPLE LOSE AITH IN OLICE common man’s plight. Added to this, officers close to TRS leaders are having their field day across the state and many undeserving officers have occupied ‘plum’ posts thanks to the clout they enjoy with ruling party

leaders. For instance, one officer, who rose from the rank of Sub-Inspector was made the head of the Hyderabad city task force and is said to have amassed huge wealth during his stint. What more! He was given an extended duration of service after his retirement for the reasons best known to the powers that be. Interestingly, the task force in Hyderabad and the Special Operation Teams (SOT) in Cyberabad and Rachakonda have no legal sanctity. There is no mention of these special teams in the Police Manual. These teams were supposed to be temporary for a specific task but over a period, the police chiefs have made them permanent and there is huge competition to become the member of these special teams for obvious reasons. Insiders say most cases handled by the task force and SOT end up in acquittal since these teams do not bother about detailed investigation. These teams simply catch the accused, seize some material and then pocket for themselves a portion of the recovery made before handing over the case to law and order police stations since these teams have no power to register and investigate a case. Some officers working law and order police stations told The News on condition of anonymity that the officials in the task force and SOT squeeze the juice from the accused and leave the pulp to the police station. In such scenario, the officials in the law and order police station will have to bear the expenses from their pockets for processing and carrying out detailed investigation into the case. Invariably, the law and order cops file the final reports on the basis of the peripheral details given by the task force.

The law and order cops also lamented that the task force and SOT officials are not authorized to issue press releases and conduct press conferences to announce the case details. But, flouting the guidelines of the Police Manual, these teams openly send press releases and conduct press conferences, said the sulking law and order cops. It is alleged that the task force and SOT officials have made huge money in the recent past taking advantage of the government’s interest in curbing adulterated food and spurious seeds. It is also alleged that these teams are collecting ‘hafta’ from the people having history sheets against them. Things are more or less same in all the districts of Telangana. Unit officers in certain districts are allegedly setting targets to their subordinates in collecting mamools as if there is no tomorrow. One police commissioner and another superintendent of police are said to have mastered this technique and raking in the moolah taking advantage of their proximity to the ruling party leaders, sources said. While the common man is denied justice, majority of the police officials are behaving as the agents of the ruling party and their leaders. Any criticism over the corrupt and irregular practices of the ruling party and its leaders is crushed with iron hands of the police department. Take the case of Nerella in Sircilla district where a labourer Bhumaiah was crushed to death by a speeding lorry that is used to transport sand from Mid Maneru. Residents of the surrounding villages went berserk and set a couple of lorries on fire due to which the sand mafia grew angry. Backed by the TRS leaders, the sand mafia un-

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

B Mahesh

Eswar

leashed terror on Nerella residents with the help of the uniformed agents of the TRS leaders. Police picked up G Gopal, Balaraju, Eswar, Harish, P Bhanaiah and B Mahesh when they were sleeping through the night in their homes. All of them were either SCs or BCs. They were subjected to brutal torture and forced to confess to the crime they have not committed. Gopal suffered damage to his spinal cord. Opposition parties gave lip service to the criticism and some activists stirred up the agitation against the atrocity committed by the police personnel. The victims

of police torture are still reeling under fear. They are not able to go for work because of the physical torture and wounds from which they have not yet recovered. Despite this, the ruling party played down the atrocities committed by the police and tried to throw the blame on the victims. In another case, 25-year-old Budagajangam Venkatesh, who was picked up for his suspected role in pocket picking at a TRS party meeting in Yellareddipeta of Sircilla district on July 5, 2017, was subjected to brutal torture following which he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Harish

Gandham Gopal

It is alleged that police used third degree for nine days against Venkatesh and made him confess to the pocket pickings he did not commit. Following the death of Venkatesh, his 20-year-old wife Renuka lost her husband while their two infant kids lost their father. Yet, there seems to be no end to the police brutality and corruption as a result of which people in Telangana have almost lost their faith in police. It is high time the top brass and the government initiate drastic measures to correct the system.

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

ACP accused of hand-in-glove with land sharks lobbying for Madhapur ACP post

THE NEWS BUREAU

here is no dispute about the fact that Wakf properties are up for grab in and around Hyderabad. The grabbers are finding support from politicos and also from the officials including police officials. But little is being done to protect the Wakf properties and take action against the grabbers and their supporters. Same is the case with the lands attached to Hazarath Mir Mehmood Saheb Pahadi of Attapur to an extent of 328 acres 10 guntas dry land and 56 acres 1 gunta wet land. It was declared as Wakf property in Gazette 2893. Further, the land in survey numbers 403, 418 to 421 is also a

notified wakf property attached to Dargah Kohe Moula Ali. Besides, land in survey numbers 399, 400, 401, 403, 420 to 426 has heritage precincts and the government has issued orders in 2009 to this effect. Yet, a team of land sharks headed by Pasham Madhusudan Reddy and Pilli Anjaneyulu Yadav created fake documents with the help of some corrupt officials and alienating this Wakf property. It was then Wakf property protection activist Mohammed Ayub Ali singlehandedly began his fight to protect Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property. However, the then Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Malkajgiri, K Ravichandan Reddy, in collusion with the land sharks

got a case registered against Ayub Ali. When the activist was undeterred, the ACP threatened him with booking him under PD Act. An investigative report was published in this magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s July 2016 issue even as the Ayub Ali continued his fight against the land grabbing and took the matter to the higher ups of the police department. Consequently, an enquiry was ordered into the role of ACP, Ravichandan Reddy and the Crime

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

Consequently, an enquiry was ordered into the role of ACP, Ravichandan Reddy and the Crime Investigation Department (CID) was also asked to probe the matter. While the influential ACP managed to bring the CID probe to a halt, the previous Deputy Commissioner of Police, LB Nagar, Tafseer Iqbal, submitted his report to the Director General of Police. Investigation Department (CID) was also asked to probe the matter. While the influential ACP managed to bring the CID probe to a halt, the previous Deputy Commissioner of Police, LB Nagar, Tafseer Iqbal, submitted his report to the Director General of Police. It is learnt the report of the DCP nailed ACP, Ravichandan Reddy for his role in the wakf property grabbing scandal and recommended for suitable action. Following this, the DGP, Anurag Sarma is learnt to have posted the ACP to a police training college. However, Ravichandan Reddy, is said to have the blessings of some senior officials in the chief ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peshi and refused to report at the transferred place. Instead, it is widely in circulation that the ACP is making efforts to become the Madhapur division ACP, considered a plum posting, given the skyrocketing land prices. It has to be seen whether the government machinery succumbs to the influence Ravichandan Reddy enjoys.

COVER STORY

The News You Like | October, 2017

GHMC helping garbage vehicle scam plotters go scotfree SOCIAL ACTIVIST DEMAND CBI PROBE

THE NEWS BUREAU

he stink in the garbage vehicles wing of the GHMC continues unabated with the GHMC administration reluctant to follow the guidelines of the Vigilance and Enforcement wing of the state government in making pur-

chases for the maintenance of the vehicles. The GHMC has more than 1,000 vehicles including three and four wheelers to load and unload the garbage on priority basis to maintain the public health. All the vehicles will report for repairs required to vehicle repair centers â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Malakpet, Khairatabad and Kavadiguda - which function under the control of the Chief Transport Officer. Each repair unit is headed by a Deputy Executive Engineer (DEE), assisted by an Assistant Engineer (AE) and Foreman. According to sources, Foreman, AE and DEE

COVER STORY work in close coordination and prevent any attempt towards bringing transparency. Sources said these three officials are colluded with the contractors and workers unions. They not only resort to corruption, misappropriation of funds but grease the workers unions to keep them at bay. In many cases, they even buy old spares from the old spares market in Afzalgunj but produce fake bills in collusion with certain fictitious dealers and firms. All these things are known to the top brass of the GHMC, but they remain mute spectators to the blatant corrupt practices due to obvious reasons, sources said. The higher-ups are prevented and pressurized by politicians from taking any action. Besides, the higher-ups fear any action would disturb garbage transportation as the officials working in the vehicle repairs units are capable of bringing the garbage vehicles to a halt, sources said. The extent of power and influence enjoyed by some corrupt officials of the GHMC could be estimated from the fact that the recommendations made in September 2011 by the Vigilance and Enforcement department to prevent corruption and ensure transparency in the repairs of GHMC vehicles, have not been implemented even after six years, sources said. Further, the corrupt GHMC officials, through the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Transport Contractors Association is trying to thwart the Lokayukta proceedings that were initiated after a social activist K Venkatanarayana approached Lokayukta seeking an independent investigation and action against the culprits. Even as the Lokayukta proceedings were underway, the transport

The News You Like | October, 2017

contractors association president Ramesh Kumar Tharad entered the picture. Claiming that the contractors had become victims as the GHMC stopped the payment for the supplies they have made, Ramesh Kumar made representations to the GHMC and also to the Lokayukta seeking a direction to release the dues. No sooner Ramesh made the representations, the GHMC officials filed a reply in the Lokayukta in favour of the contractors as if everything has been straightened. Further, Ramesh had hired a strong

team of advocates to fight the case. The social activist says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am afraid the GHMC officials will in all probability thwart the case. Hence, I am appealing to the Lokayukta to recommend a CBI probe. Only a CBI probe can bring the culprits to book.â&#x20AC;? Venkatnarayana also demanded that the GHMC should not concede the demand of the transport contractors since the dues being shown are towards fake supplies and fake receipts. Any payment should be made only after a CBI probe, he said.

The News You Like | October, 2017

COVER STORY

Rasamayi Balakishan T

FACES FLAK

THE NEWS BUREAU

RS legislator Rasamayi Balakishan has been everywhere in the news these days but all for bad reasons. He is accused of neglecting the dalits due to which two dalits immolated themselves outside his office in Manakonduru in Karimnagar recently. One of them later succumbed at hospital and another is likely to be discharged. Another reason for which Balakishan is in the news is because of alleged corrupt practices in Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi, an organization funded by the government and headed by Balakishan. In the first case, the two dalits, M Srinivas and Y Parashuramulu, went to meet Balakishan at his office after the Village Revenue Officer had asked them to pay a bribe of Rs 20,000 for giving a three-acre land under the SC/ST scheme. They wanted to explain their grievance to their legislator, but the legislator, allegedly made them wait for hours before refusing the see them. Anguished by it, both the victims doused themselves with petrol and immolated themselves. In another case, a publication titled ‘Pidikili’ had carried a report on the alleged irregular and corrupt practices going on in the Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi. Instead of course correction, Balakishan allegedly directed the employees of the organization to file a false case against the editor and a reporter of the Pidikili. Balakishan is said to have pressurized the Madhapur police to book a criminal case against the two journalists, one of whom is a physically challenged person. Despite knowing this, the police kneeled before the TRS legislator and forced the two journal-

ists – editor Chamakura Raju and reporter Panthangi Bhiksham Goud – to appear before the police. The charges leveled inclue that Raju had resorted to snatching of certain documents by trespassing into the office of Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi, created nuisance and even resorted to criminal intimidation. The charges became a laughingstock as Raju cannot even walk properly because of the physical disability. Yet, police officials were very fast in taking action on such a frivolous complaint. Despite all this, the TRS leadership is keeping a mysterious silence with respect to Balakishan for the reasons best known to them.

REGIONAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Superstitious rituals to be banned in Karnataka

THE NEWS BUREAU

he Karnataka cabinet has decided to ban various superstitious rituals such as women parading naked and people rolling over leftover food in Hindu temples or human/animal sacrifices across the state. "The state cabinet has decided to introduce the Anti-Superstition Bill for amending the law to prevent and eradicate various inhuman evil practices, including human sacrifice and black magic," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jaychandra told reporters after the cabinet meeting. As there was difference of opinion in the cabinet on using the word "superstitious" in the law, the

Bill has been re-christened the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017. "As the Bill has been cleared by the cabinet sub-committee, it will be introduced in the winter session of the assembly," said Jayachandra. The Bill proposes to ban, among other rituals, women parading and dancing naked for boon in the Hindu deity Renukamba Devi temple at Chandragutti in Shivammoga district. Another age-old superstitious practice sought to be banned is called 'Made Snana' wherein devotees roll over plantain leaf with food left over by Brahmins at Kukke Subramanya Temple in

Dakshina Kannada district, ostensibly for curing body ailments. The Bill is also intended to stop people walking over fire in some religious festivals, using snake, scorpion or dog bites to cure rare diseases and preventing sacrificing bulls in Nagalamadhika temple in Tumukaru district. Suggestions by progressive thinkers and social organisations were incorporated in the amendment Bill by the sub-committee, headed by Revenue Minister K Thimmappa. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that his government was committed to bring a law against superstitious acts and confident that it will be passed in the ensuing assembly session.

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Cops shake up Arab sheiks trafficking network

THE NEWS BUREAU

n international trafficking racket was busted by the Hyderabad police following the arrest of five Omani nationals, three Qatar nationals, three qazis including chief qazi of Mumbai, four lodge owners and five brokers. The police have also identified more than 35 brokers in Hyderabad alone, of which 25 were women.

sexually abused and exploited by several men, after a rich sheikh takes his turn with her. This was revealed by the city police commissioner, M Mahender Reddy. The city police chief also said that the chief qazi of Mumbai, Farid Ahmed Khan, who enjoys respect and influence in India and abroad, acted as kingpin for the trafficking racket. In the instant case, he had prepared forged docu-

The racket was operating allegedly with the support of some ‘politicians’. Parents of minor girls were lured on the pretext of their daughters getting married to rich sheiks and leading a lavish life. But the girls end up getting raped by men who are more than twice their age and in some cases, old enough to be their grandfathers. Minor girls from Hyderabad are taken to the Gulf nations after being bought and are repeatedly

ments as if the marriages were performed in Mumbai and forged marriage certificates with the stamping of Omani Embassy. In order to curb the menace, city police made certain suggestions to the minority welfare department that a foreigner must bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from his country and that the age gap between the husband and the wife should not be more than ten years.

Police also suggested that the foreigner must apply for permission from the police in writing, with details of the bride, one month before the intended wedding. A sub-inspector or someone above must then be deputed to look into the documents. The police also suggested that the marriage should be held in the presence of MWD or Child Welfare officials. Further, the bridegroom shall deposit Rs 10 lakh in the name of bride to be and treat her on par with his native wife. “Until and unless all the conditions are met, it will be illegal for any Qazi to conduct the marriage. If a Qazi doesn’t follow these orders, they shall be liable for criminal action under IPC 120 B(Criminal Conspiracy),” the police said. The police has also asked the Minorities Welfare Department, to issue stricter guidelines for foreign nationals, if they want to marry someone from Hyderabad. Amjed Ullah Khan of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) alleged that these incidents were happening right under the noses of the police and politicians. “The AIMIM and its chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who speak on every national issue, are remaining silent now," he accused. "This is sex tourism under the guise of Nikah, and it has to be stopped. Additionally, even mosques can talk about this issue during their Friday sermons, so that people do not get lured as easily. It is not a lack of awareness, but greed, which is the driving motive in such cases," he added.

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Rohingyas, Bangladeshis secure Aadhar, Voter Id at their will T

P VISHNUVARDHAN REDDY

wo incidents of security breach have come to light in Rachakonda police commissionerate that pose a serious question as to whether the special branch and intelligence agencies of this country are looking the other way with regard to the illegal immigrants. Though these incidents appear to be isolated ones, over a period, they are bound to pose serious threat to the national security. In one incident, the police chanced upon a Rohingya refugee, who with the help of one Anwal of Belgaum in Karnataka, has been able to secure Aadhar card and electoral photo voter identity card about a year ago. The refugee, Mohammed Ismail, who entered into India illegally via Bangladesh, had been living in Pahadishareef for over 15 months in a house owned by one Abdul Rasheed. Not just that, Rasheed was helping Ismail change the address in the Aadhar and voter identity cards from Karnataka to

Telangana so that the refugee can secure an Indian Passport and fly to Dubai. In another incident, Rachakonda police arrested two pimps who had been running prostitution racket. But what came as a shocking for the police is that the victim of the racket was identified as Bangladeshi woman. What more! One of the pimps identified as Mohammed Mustafa had submitted fake documents

claiming the woman as his wife and got her an Aadhar card. Police officials are baffled at the ease with which an ordinary refugee and a trafficked woman have been able to secure Aadhar and other identity proofs. This is not the first time such shocking incidents have come to light. In September 2015 two police officials of Hyderabad police, attached to the passport verification wing of the Special Branch were arrested for facilitating Rohingya refugees secure Indian passports with identity cards they managed to secure through fraudulent means. Despite such glaring and worrisome incidents, it appears neither the police nor the political administration is bothered to put a stop for the grave irregularities that could eventually pose serious threat to national security.

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Kashmir to Kanyakumari: Nigerians have a field day

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achakonda police arrested a 10-member gang of Nigerians that attained notoriety for cheating and white collar fraud across the country.

Police recovered eight laptops, 26 mobile phones, one iPad, ten internet dongles, 35 SIM cards and other incriminating material from the Delhi based gang. Rachakonda police commissioner, Mahesh Bhagwat said the

gang had resorted to cheating from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. According to him, the gang lures prospective victims through social networking sites by sending friend requests. Over a period, they offer to send luxurious gifts and thus the game of cheating starts. Other members of the gang start calling the victim claiming to be officers of the customs, RBI and so on and demand money to be transferred to various accounts in the name of customs clearance, antiterrorism clearance, interntional monetary fund transfer and RBI clearance charges etc. Victims in Telangana have lost several lakhs of rupees to the fraudulent practices of the gang, while the gang had cheated scores of people across the country.

GENDER CRIME

The News You Like | October, 2017

Google fires engineer

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nternet giant Google has fired the male engineer after he issued an internal memo saying there are biological causes behind gender inequality in the tech industry. James Damore, the engineer who wrote the memo, confirmed his dismissal, saying that he had been fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes". Damore said he was exploring all possible legal remedies, and that before being fired, he had submitted a charge to the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing Google upper management of trying to shame him into silence. "It's illegal to retaliate against an NLRB charge," he said. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told employees in a note that portions of the anti-diversity memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." It was not immediately clear what legal remedy Damore could try to invoke. Non-union or "at will" employees, such as most tech workers, can be fired in the United States for a wide array of reasons that have nothing to do with performance. The US National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers, whether they are in a union or not, the right to engage in "concerted activities" for their "mutual aid or protection". Damore, though, would likely face an uphill fight to seek that protection based on his memo, said Alison Morantz, a Stanford University law professor with expertise in labor law. "It's going to be a hard sell that this activity was

either concerted or for mutual aid or protection, rather than simply venting or pitting one group of workers against the others, which does not sound very mutual," Morantz said. Debate over the treatment of women in the maledominated tech industry has raged for months. Claims of persistent sexual harassment in the ranks of Uber Technologies Inc and of several venture capital firms led to management shakeups. Management at the largest tech firms, including Google, have publicly committed to diversifying their workforces, although the percentage of women in engineering and management roles remains low at many companies. The US Department of Labor is investigating whether Google has unlawfully paid women less than men. The company has denied the charges. Damore asserted in his 3,000-word document that circulated inside the company that "Google's left bias has created a politically correct monoculture" which prevented honest discussion of diversity. The engineer, who has a doctoral degree in systems biology from Harvard University, according to his LinkedIn page, attacked the idea that gender diversity should be a goal. Google's vice president of diversity, Danielle Brown, sent a memo in response to the furor, saying the engineer's essay "advanced incorrect assumptions about gender".

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

International alert for Honeypreet, Aditya

THE NEWS BUREAU

aryana Director General of Police (DGP) B S Sandhu has said that an international alert has been sounded for three top Dera Sacha Sauda sect functionaries - Honeypreet, Pawan

Insan and Aditya Insan - and raids were being conducted to nab them. The Haryana Police has booked all three, who are considered close aides of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, on charges of sedition, inciting violence and criminal conspiracy.

The DGP said there was no pressure on the police and the investigation into the matter is being done independently. "Private properties of Honeypreet, Pawan Insan and Aditya Insan would be attached," he said. Sandhu said that investigations into the August 25 violence that took place after the verdict of the CBI court on the Dera chief are heading in the right direction. "Arrests are being made on the basis of evidence. As many as 1,100 persons have so far been arrested, including 44 from Sirsa, whose involvement was confirmed," the DGP told media in Sirsa town, 260 km from here. He said that the police have released a list of 43 persons who were involved in the violence that took place in Panchkula. "Search operation is under way to nab three most wanted, including Honeypreet, Pawan Insan and Aditya Insan. International alert has been issued on them and teams are conducting raids to nab them," he said. There were reports that Honeypreet could have escaped to Nepal and could try to flee to another country. Aditya Insan, chief spokesman of the Dera and a close aide of the sect chief, has been absconding since August 25. On Ram Rahim Singh being quizzed by the police regarding Honeypreet, Sandhu did not give a direct reply. "Police investigation is heading in the right direction, and whosoever required, would be interrogated," he pointed out. Asked why Honeypreet was not arrested earlier as she had accompanied Ram Rahim to Panchkula and later to the Rohtak jail, the DGP said: "Until August 25, no case was registered against Hon-

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Honeypreet 'wanted a son' with Dera chief

ape convict Dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his so-called adoptive daughter Honeypreet, who were allegedly having an incestuous relationship, had a secret Dera succession plan, it has been claimed. According to former Dera followers, both wanted a child who they planned to make him the Dera chief, but the plot did not materialise, former sect follower Gurdas Singh Toor told a news channel. Toor has shocked the Dera community with his revelation. He claims that both were living like a couple and had a desire to give birth to a child, a male child in particular, to make him succeed Ram Rahim. The idea, in fact, was allegedly mooted by Honeypreet herself as she was reportedly against Gurmeet's son Jasmeet Singh Insan.

eypreet. But after the arrest of Surender Dhiman, Honeypreet was found to be accused of provoking violence. Therefore, a case was registered against her and search was on to nab her."

'Ram Rahim was against his son Jasmeet as well and was not keen to make him the Dera chief. As Honeypreet was the number two in the sect, she wanted to give birth to a child from Gurmeet and both had plans to make him the future Dera chief,' Toor claimed. According to Toor, Honeypreet and Ram Rahim wanted to use Vishwas Gupta's name as the father in the eyes of society. However, the plan did not materialise as Gupta divorced Honeypreet. Honeypreet has been on the run since Ram Rahim was sentenced last month for raping two women, sparking a wave of furious protests from his supporters. Honeypreet, said to be in her mid 30s, is considered among Ram Rahim's closest aides and a successor as the head of the sect.

Sandhu said the police had information that after the violence in Panchkula, Honeypreet came to the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. He said that as per the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders, a search opera-

tion was carried out in the Dera headquarters campus under supervision of the court commissioner who would submit his report to the court on September 27. One copy of the report would be given to the Haryana government. "Further action will be taken according to the court orders," he added. Referring to the revelations of Honeypreet's ex-husband Vishwas Gupta on the relationship between the Dera chief and Honeypreet, the DGP said that Gupta had met the Panchkula Police Commissioner, but he had not given any complaint in writing. If any written complaint is received, police would include it in the investigations, the DGP said. Convicted by the CBI court in Panchkula on two counts of rape of female disciples in 1999, Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by the CBI court, and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh. His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 38 people dead and 264 injured. Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several other places in Punjab.

CRIME NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Chennai Express producer remanded to judicial custody

THE NEWS BUREAU

ollywood producer Karim Morani was sent to judicial custody for 14 days after he surrendered before the police. Morani surrendered before the police late on September 22 night in connection with the alleged rape of a 25-year-old aspiring actress, hours after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea for anticipatory bail. The Chennai Express producer surrendered at the Hayathnagar police station in Rachakonda police commissionerate. Morani was later produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody till October 6. He was lodged in Cherlapally jail. The Delhi-based woman alleged that Morani raped her on

the pretext of marrying her. She alleged that Morani took her nude pictures and videos and sexually exploited her by threatening to post the same on social media. The police had booked him in January on charges of rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and cheating. The Supreme Court dismissed Morani's petition challenging the Hyderabad High Court's verdict cancelling his bail. The apex court directed him to surrender. The High Court on September 5 had upheld the decision of the sessions court cancelling Morani's bail. Morani was booked for cheating, rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of marriage under

the Indian Penal Code. The complainant alleged that Morani raped her in Mumbai and also at a film studio in Hyderabad in 2015 after promising to marry her. The woman, who had done her Bachelor of Business Management (BBA) from Delhi, said she had met Morani through his daughter, who was also a theatre artiste in Mumbai. The producer, however, had denied the allegations. Morani said the complaint was filed with the sole intention of tarnishing his reputation and image. The producer's name had also figured as an accused in the 2G spectrum scam. He was accused of helping channel funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore to popular Tamil television channel Kalaignar TV.

CASTE CONFLICT

The News You Like | October, 2017

Arya Vysyas up in arms against Kancha Ilaiah Controversy unlikely to die down

MATTIPATI YANADI REDDY

t appears the controversy triggered by Kancha Ilaiah, director, center for the study of social exclusion and inclusive policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad, will continue for some more time. His book â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sakajika Smagglarlu Komatollu (Arya Vysyas are social smugglers) invited the wrath of the community. Members of the Arya Vysya community took to roads and staged protests demanding ban on the book and stern action for

hurting the sentiments of the community. While some TDP leaders from the community played active role in the protests, leaders from other parties belonging to the community extended moral support for the cause of the protesters. Andhra Pradesh TDP MP TG Venkatesh said that Kancha Ilaiah was a traitor who deserved to be hanged in public. Participating in a round table conference organised by the Arya Vysya Mahasabha in Hyderabad, Venkatesh said that he would file

cases against Ilaiah, bring the issue to the Prime Minister's notice, and even raise it in Parliament. Ilaiah, however, defended his book, telling reporters, "Social Smuggling is a phrase. It is the economic process of exploitation, which means earning in business

CASTE CONFLICT

The News You Like | October, 2017

but not investing back into society." After receiving several threatening phone calls for days, Ilaiah sought police protection saying that he was facing a threat to his life. Speaking at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram he even declared, “If I die, Arya Vysyas will be responsible for my death.” Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh CID on September 19 registered a case against Ilaiah, for his controversial book. On the other hand, an online petition on Change.org demanding the arrest of Ilaiah has gained over 28,000 signatures, within a span of two weeks. The petition, reportedly started by the International Vysya Federation of Tamil Nadu, states that Ilaiah has a "dubious track record" of attacking Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh and accuses him of provoking the Arya Vysya community unnecessarily. This comes one day after the writer was allegedly attacked with slippers and stones, as he was heading towards Hyderabad after

attending a function in Bhupalpally in Telangana. Ilaiah later filed a police complaint accusing a few people of attacking his vehicle and trying to kill him. A criminal case was also registered against the writer by the Saidabad police in Hyderabad, after an advocate filed a complaint claiming that Ilaiah’s books contained a lot of objectionable content. "Further, the book mentions that Mahatma Gandhi, a Vysya, was killed by Nathuram Godse, a Brahmin. This promotes hatred between the two communities. Also, this is not the first instance where Ilaiah has spewed venom at Hinduism, its Gods and religious sentiments," the complainant said in his report. In this backdrop, Ilaiah told a television channel that he was planning to impose a ‘house arrest’ on himself until October 4. “Until the evening of October 4, I am putting myself under house arrest. I plan to be silent. I will send

a press statement to all media houses. I won’t come on TV debates, won’t give interviews to newspapers, and just stay at home,” Ilaiah said. While so, the Congress has condemned the attack on Ilaiah and demanded action against a TDP MP who had allegedly threatened him. In a statement, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Ilaiah's vehicle was pelted with shoes and stones at Ambedkar Centre in Parakal town of Warangal district on September 24. He alleged that earlier TDP MP TG Venkatesh had issued a 'fatwa' against Ilaiah threatening to "kill" him or "hang him in the streets". The Congress leader said that issuing a "Talibani Fatwa" by members of ruling dispensation with "overt and covert support of the establishment is a dangerous trend in our polity". The developments show that it is unlikely that the controversy stoked by Ilaiah is not going to calm down any time soon.

NATIONAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Linking phone number with Aadhar: Ministry misinterprets SC order

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f you are using a mobile phone, certainly you must have received an SMS from your telecom provider asking you to link your Aadhaar to your mobile number. Telecom operators across the

country are urging their subscribers to link their Aadhaar number to their mobile phones despite the fact that the Supreme Court is yet to pass an order on whether Aadhaar infringes upon the right to privacy. According to reports, telecom operators are still going by a Department of Telecommunications

(DoT) circular issued in March 2017 before the Supreme Court started hearing the Aadhaar case. The circular directs all phone connections in the country to be be linked to Aadhaar by February 2018. The DoT circular cites a Supreme Court â&#x20AC;&#x153;directiveâ&#x20AC;? made on

NATIONAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

February 6, 2017. The observation was made by a two-judge bench which was hearing a writ petition filed by Lokniti Foundation seeking verification and identity of every mobile phone subscriber. Chitranshul Sinha, a Supreme Court lawyer in his article in an English language newspaper argues that the DoT has made an “erroneous conclusion”, based on a misinterpretation of the apex court “observation”. Pointing out that the government had informed the Supreme Court that a number of people do not hold Aadhaar cards and that Aadhaar was not mandatory for obtaining a new telephone connection, Sinha writes, “There can be no question of Aadhaar being made mandatory for re-verification of existing users when it is not even mandatory for obtaining new connections. Therefore, the circular, by stating that the Supreme Court has directed the DoT to mandate Aadhaar as the exclusive method for re-verification, is misleading the public at large, intentionally or unintentionally.” Pinning the blame on DoT,

Sinha goes on to highlight that the Telecom Ministry has chosen to bypass a March 2017 interim order of the Supreme Court stating that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for welfare schemes, and has instead erroneously relied on another apex court observation. But Sinha notes that until the DoT circular is struck down by a High Court or the Supreme Court, telecom operators will be bound to follow it. Another report in the Live Law states the February 6 order was passed based on the submissions made by then Attorney General, Mukul Rohatgi who said the DoT has launched Aadhaar-based Know Your Customer for issuing mobile connections. But the article points out that the Attorney General did not mention

that a different bench of the SC had made Aadhaar enrolment optional. Moreover, it also notes that the three-judge bench did not explore other forms of verification since the matter is under legal scrutiny. In a landmark judgment made on August 24, 2017 by a nine-judge bench, the SC declared that privacy is a fundamental right. This paved way for the fivejudge Constitution Bench to decide whether the methods of collecting and storing biometric and demographic data for Aadhaar violate the privacy rights of citizens. While the government has been pushing Aadhaar aggressively making it mandatory for linking it for various purposes across different departments, privacy advocates have been vocal in its opposition to the issue.

NATIONAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Aadhaar can reduce digital transaction cost to almost nil: NITI Aayog CEO

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he cost of digital transactions could be reduced to almost zero if payments were made through Aadhaar Card, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has said . "Mobile telephony with Aadhaar, when it is linked with bank account... Aadhaar to Aadhaar transactions, like with BHIM app, the cost of transaction is zero," Kant said during a panel discussion at a conclave on financial inclusion organised in New Delhi by the United Nations India chapter.

Aadhaar payment could reduce the transaction cost greatly compared with card payments, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog official said. Transaction cost on payments made by credit cards stand at 3.5 per cent while payments through debit cards attract 1.25-1.50 per cent transaction charges. Ashok Pal Singh, CEO, India Post Payment Bank, said that along with simplification of digital payment, the challenge was to make it affordable as well. "The challenge is how do we

make Rs 10 digital payment viable. Aadhaar authentication cost is very reasonable. Payment transaction using Aadhaar should be able to cost the same... almost zero," Singh said. "India Post Payments Bank envisions the conversion of every Aadhaar Card into a payment account. It was established to ensure financial inclusion," he added. RS Sharma, Chairperson, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, said the removal of transaction costs could really push up

The challenge is how do we make Rs 10 digital payment viable. Aadhaar authentication cost is very reasonable. Payment transaction using Aadhaar should be able to cost the same... almost zero

NATIONAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

digital payments. "All transactions based on Aadhaar Card will enable a customer have credit history which will help under-served to avail of loans," Sharma said. He said India has an advantage as no other country has the kind of digital infrastructure it has. "If we are not using the technology we are losing out on the opportunity," he added. Talking on the issue of data security of Aadhaar Cards, Sharma said mobile phones gave out much more private data to corporate firms. "Mobile phone is more dangerous than Aadhaar. It emits so much meta data like location etc, which is given out to companies and not the government. This data is huge. There are issues of data ownership in mobile phone sector. Security is important. Sooner this issue is tackled the better it is," he said. Unique Identification Authority of IndiaA (UIDAI) CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said that people should not fear threat to privacy as Aadhaar was a secure way of providing identification along with strong safeguards. As many as 117 crore people

were already enrolled for Aadhaar Cards and four lakh people were being added each day, he said. "With the infrastructure, digital payment transactions hold great scope for India to leapfrog into the new realm," Pandey said. The government has kept a

deadline of December 31 for all bank accounts to be linked to Aadhaar. It has also been mandated to link all mobile numbers with Aadhaar by February 2018. The Supreme Court on August 24 had declared the Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, a ruling that could have a bearing on the case related to Aadhaar that has been made mandatory for various services. Aadhaar number would thus have to stand the test of constitutionality as the Supreme Court's decision on the legislation is pending. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, which aims to provide legal backing to the Aadhaar unique identification number project, was passed in 2016 by Parliament.

GLOBAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

India second largest group among US Asian population A

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sian population in the United States doubled in size between 2000 and 2015 across the 19 origin groups with India standing as the second largest countryof-origin group with 4 million people dominating the US Asian population. China tops the list with 4.9 million, while Filipino origin with 3.9 million comes third. The US Asian population grew 72% in the same period making it the fastest growth rate of any major racial or ethnic group, a new research study was undertaken by Pew Research Centre, a datadriven tank suggests. About 20 million Asian Americans trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The 19 largest origin groups together account for 94% of the total Asian population in the US. On measures of educational attainment, Indians have the highest educational level among Asian

Americans with 72% holding a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree or more in 2015. The research report points out that about half of Asians aged 25 and older who account for 51% of the population have a bachelor's degree or more compared to 30% of all Americans. India is followed by a majority of Sri Lankan (57%), Mongolian (59%) and Malaysian (60%) adults who hold the graduation degree. On measures of economic well being, the Asian population in the US fairs well, compared to the US population as a whole. Indian households feature on the top of the list having the highest median income ($100,000), followed by Filipinos ($80,000), Japanese and Sri Lankans (each $74,000). Further, Asians were also less likely to live in poverty in 2015 than the US population. But, of the 19 Asian groups analysed, four groups had poverty rate higher than the US. While Bhutan and Burma had the highest poverty rates, India came across having the lowest rate

with 7.5% along with Japan joining in at 8.4%. Talking of language proficiency, the study shows about 80% of Indians aged 5 years and older spoke English proficiently in 2015. In the Asian continent, the other countries that feature in the list are Japanese (84%) and Filipinos (82%). In contrast, India's immediate neighbours, Bhutan and Burma both groups with large populations of recently arrived immigrants have some of the lowest rates of English proficiency. However, of the 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants living in the US, the Asian unauthorized immigrants made up about 13% of them. Four nations in Asia were featured in the list with India's share standing at 5 lakhs, followed by China, Philippines and Korea. The study projects that Asians are to become the largest immigrant group in US, surpassing Hispanics, the second largest growing group.

GLOBAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Pak caught using fake photo at UN

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ndia hit out at Pakistan on September 25 saying it has callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and divert attention from Islamabad's role as the hub of world terrorism. Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India's UN Mission, held up the photograph of the body of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from the Indian state of Kashmir who was tortured and killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, surrounded by mourners, and a picture of Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displaying the picture of the Palestinian girl claiming she was Kashmiri. Tripathi told the Assembly the photograph of Faiyaz "is a true picture" and it "reflects the real pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India," contrasting it with the fake picture used by Lodhi on Saturday while reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The picture of the injured girl that Lodhi displayed was that of Rawya Abu Jom'a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, "Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza," Tripathi pointed out. Caught using a fake picture, a Pakistani diplomat made the bizarre statement that "backing up

debates with pictures has backfired" on India while responding to Tripathi. Tipu Usman, a Counsellor at the Pakistani Mission, told the Assembly, "India is seeking to hide behind a picture." Asked at his daily briefing if the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Miroslav Lajcak could do anything about fake pictures being used at the Assembly as was done by Lodhi, his spokesperson Brian Varma said, "I don't think the PGA has a role, but I will look into it." Tripathi help up both pictures and directed attention to the photograph of the Indian soldier and said, "This is a real picture and not a fake picture of Lt. Umar Faiyaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Fiayz was kidnapped at a wedding reception. He was brutally

tortured and killed by Pakistansupported terrorists in May 2017." "This is a true picture," she said. "It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with everyday." "This was the reality that the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," Tripathi said.Lodhi "yet again sought to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism," Tripathi said. "She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl" from Gaza. "The Permanent Representative of Pakistan misled the Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehood about India," Tripathi added. "A fake picture to push a completely false narrative."

GLOBAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Pak admits LeT, Hafiz Saeed are liabilities P

THE NEWS BUREAU

akistan Foreign Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif has admitted that Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its leader Hafiz Saeed are liabilities to Islamabad. "It is easy to say that Pakistan is supporting Afghan terrorists, Hafiz Saeed and Lakshar-eTaiba," he said. "They are liabilities... I accept they are liabilities. But give us time to get rid of these liabilities because we do not have the assets to manage those liabilities. You are increasing the liabilities further" by harping on them, he said. Asif was answering questions at the Asia Society after a speech on Pakistan's priorities under the new Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The moderator, Columbia University Journalism School Dean Steve Coll, specifically mentioned Hafiz Saeed -- the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 Indians and foreigners -- starting a political party. The Foreign Minister replied: "I agree we should continue our efforts (to) defang, dismantling whatever remnants are there of extremism or terrorists in Pakistan. I don't disagree with that.

"You mentioned a name. It is a proscribed organisation, the gentleman is under house arrest. But I agree with you that on that score we have to do more. "There are people in Pakistan who can be a liability in times of crisis for Pakistan and for the region, I agree," he added. Asif blamed the US for the rise of terrorist organisations in Pakistan, citing its support for the jihadists against the former Soviet Union during its occupation of Afghanistan. On India, Asif said that while the Jammu and Kashmir issue was non-negotiable and Pakistan won't give up its stand, deposed Prime Minister "Nawaz Sharif staked his political career, for achieving or stablizing our relationship. I don't say ... pleasant or loveydovey relationship can be achieved overnight. But stabilizing our relationship with India" was possible. He added that Nawaz Sharif was called Indian Prime Minister Narendra "Modi's friend and traitor" by the opposition in Pakistan. "But despite that Nawaz Sharif pursued that objective. In all sincerity and all commitment, today he thinks that friendship with India will be good for both coun-

tries and bring lasting peace to the subcontinent." Asif said he pinned his hopes on improving relations in the region of economic integration. He held up the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a model and said its success could improve ties between "us and India, between China and India". Once it becomes an economic success, regional cooperation will get the support of the people, especially the businesses for whom there will be money to be made. Asif was forthright about the legacy of the Afghan war on Pakistan, which changed the ethos of a country that had been liberal. "That is the tragedy," he said. "It makes my heart bleed." The Pakistan of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s was a very liberal, pluralistic society, he said. "But what we did in 1980 to justify the jihad reversed everything. "We rewrote our histories," he said. "Heroes became non-heroes, non-heroes became heroes because we wanted to justify jihad because that suited our friends, our good friends the Americans. "They wanted to kick out the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, that was the objective. And we supported it and in the process our ethos was destroyed."

GLOBAL NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Five Indian museums find place among Asia's top 25 F

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ive Indian museums have made it to the top 25 Asia list of Travellers' Choice by TripAdvisor, displaying artifacts and collections that date back to centuries. Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata (West Bengal) has been ranked nine in the Asia list of Travellers' Choice by TripAdvisor. City Palace of Jaipur (Rajasthan) was at 15th position, while Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur (Rajasthan) was at 18th, Yodhasthal, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) was ranked 20th and Hall Of Fame, Leh (Jammu and Kashmir) secured 21st position. "Museums, with their artefacts and collections that date back centuries help tell stories, which provide the opportunity for us to look back at history and culture. "Sometimes, museums also help us reflect and understand recent events too," TripAdvisor India Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said. The award winners

were determined using an algorithm that took into account the reviews and ratings for museums worldwide, gathered over a 12month period. War Remnants Museum in Vietnam was ranked number one in the Asia top 25 list followed by the Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses in China, Tuosleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Forbidden City - The City Palace - China and Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Museum in Japan. The New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art named number one in the Travellers' Choice awards for Museums in the World, securing the position for the third year in a row. The National WWII Museum in the US secured the second place in the top 25 list followed by Musee d'Orsay in France, Art Institute of Chicago in the US and the State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace in Russia.

POLITICS

The News You Like | October, 2017

We all lied about Jaya's health condition: TN Minister

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amil Nadu Minister for Forests C Sreenivasan has sought people's apology for "lying" about the health condition of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa when she was admitted in Apollo Hospital. Speaking at a public meeting in Madurai on September 22 Sreenivasan said: "We would have told lies that she (Jayalalithaa) had idlis and people met her. The truth is that nobody saw her." Sreenivasan said he is seeking apology from the people now for "those lies". According to him, everyone in the government and in the ruling AIADMK party "lied about the people" who had met Jayalalithaa in Apollo Hospital, where she was admitted on September 22 last year. Sreenivasan said even the national leaders used to sit in Apollo Hospitals Chief Pratap Reddy's room and the AIADMK Ministers would also be seated in that room. "We all lied then so that the party's secret does not get leaked," Sreenivasan said. He said nobody met Jayalalithaa in her hospital room. She was admitted to Apollo on the night of September 22 and died in the hospital on December 5. During the period of stay, the information from the government and the hospital about her health condition was scarce. Most of the communication about her health condition stated that she was on the road to recovery and was doing well. He said it was only V K Sasikala - a close aide of Jayalalithaa for several years - who used to meet Jayalalithaa. Reacting to the charge, TTV Dinakaran, nephew of Sasikala, said after October 1, 2016 even Sasikala was not allowed inside Jayalalithaa's room. He said on the instruction of doctors Sasikala would go inside Jayalalithaa's room for two minutes. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palanisami had announced the government's decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of Jayalalithaa. Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there have been hints of foul play over her death, with critics pointing fingers at the now jailed Sasikala.

BUSINESS

The News You Like | October, 2017

AMAZON TO DOUBLE OFFICE SPACE IN INDIA

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lobal ecommerce major Amazon will be doubling its office space in India over the next one year as part of its aggressive expansion plants. It has acquired office space across cities to serve its customers. Amazon currently has 3.1 million square feet of office space across India and will be adding another 2.5 million square feet and Hyderabad will see most part of that. Amazon first set up operations in Hyderabad over a decade ago. In fact it also set up its largest fulfillment centre in India in Hyderabad recently spanning over four lakh square feet with a massive storage capacity of 2.1 million cubic feet.

In addition to the 1.5 million sqft it already occupies in five buildings spread across the city, it is now looking at an additional 0.9million-sqft space either in the financial district of Gachibowli or Raidurgam. All these are again separate from a 3-million-sqft campus that Amazon is building in Hyderabad. In Bengaluru, Amazon is

looking to add 0.6 million square feet in Outer Ring Road or the northern part of the IT city. This will be in addition to the 1.6 million sqft office space it has spread over two centres. Apart from Amazon, other startups such as Paytm, Flipkart, which have also raised huge amounts in funding are also expected to begin expanding aggressively.

BUSINESS

The News You Like | October, 2017

No info on black money removed by note ban: RBI T

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he RBI has told a parliamentary panel that it has "no information" on how much black money has been extinguished as a result of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes or about unaccounted cash legitimised through the exchange of currency post note ban. Stating that an estimated Rs 15,280 crore in junked notes has come back "subject to future corrections based on verification process", the Reserve Bank also said it has "no information" whether demonetisation is being planned to be implemented at regular intervals. The RBI has been facing flak from the opposition parties for demonetisation and delays in disclosing figures on the junked notes, even as the government has main-

tained that the 8 November 2016 decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation at that time has helped in curbing black money, among other benefits. Last week in its annual report, the RBI finally made public the details of the junked notes that have come back into the system putting the figure at Rs 15,280 crore. The same figure has now been shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. Replying to queries from the panel, the RBI said the verification for authenticity and numerical accuracy are still on, while some of the specified bank notes (old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes) which were accepted by banks and post offices are still lying in currency chests. The central bank also informed the panel that the completion of the

process of verification will take time in view of the large volume involved. The process is "going on in full swing" with most RBI offices working in double shifts and with the help of high-end verification machines, the central bank said. "Till such time, these notes are processed by the RBI, their numerical accuracy and authenticity, only in the estimation of SBNs received back is possible. Subject to future correction, based on verification process when completed, the estimated value of SBNs received as on June 30 is Rs 15.28 trillion," the RBI said in its written reply to the panel. To a query on how much amount of black money has been extinguished as a result of demonetisation, the central bank said, "The RBI has no information in this regard." The RBI gave a similar reply to another question on how much-unaccounted money has been legitimised through the exchange of junked currency. The central bank did not give any direct reply on adverse impact on the informal and unorganized sector, as also about the GDP loss. The RBI said the deceleration in overall economic growth figures for 2016-17 had begun "much before demonetisation" due to weakness in industrial and services sector. Last week, several members of the panel had sought to redraft its report on demonetisation as the RBI at that time had not provided some crucial details including on

BUSINESS

The News You Like | October, 2017

the quantum of junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The acceptance of the report was deferred as member MPs across party lines including BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, SP MP Naresh Agrawal and BJP MP Nishikant had said that the panel's report on demonetisation needed to be "redrafted" while some of them

stated that it "lacks punch". In its annual report for 2016-17, the RBI had disclosed that all but about 1 per cent of the scrapped currency notes have come back into the system. The government had on November 8, banned old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in an attempt to weed out black money in the

THE NEWS CLASSIFIEDS

country. The old notes were allowed to be deposited in banks, with unusual deposits coming under income tax scrutiny. The government replaced old Rs 500 notes with new ones, but no replacement for Rs 1,000 notes have been made. Instead, a new Rs 2,000 note was introduced post note ban.

Contact to CLASSIFIEDS & ADVTs:

Ph: 97011 41377, 99490 15509

44 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The News You Like | October, 2017

Chandrayaan-I helps scientists map water on Moon

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sing newly calibrated data taken from NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, which flew aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists have created the first global map of water in the Moon's soil. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, builds on the initial discovery in 2009 of water and a related molecule -- hydroxyl, which consists of one atom each of hydrogen and oxygen -- in lunar soil. "The signature of water is present nearly everywhere on the lunar surface, not limited to the polar regions as previously reported," said the study's lead author

Shuai Li, who performed the work while a Ph.D. student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, US. "The amount of water increases toward the poles and does not show significant difference among distinct compositional terrains," Li, now a postdoctoral researcher at University of Hawaii, added. The water concentration reaches a maximum average of around 500 to 750 parts per million in the higher latitudes. That is not a lot -- less than is found in the sands of Earth's driest deserts -- but it is also not nothing. "This is a roadmap to where water exists on the surface of the Moon," study co-author Ralph Milliken, Associate Professor at Brown

University said. "Now that we have these quantitative maps showing where the water is and in what amounts, we can start thinking about whether or not it could be worthwhile to extract, either as drinking water for astronauts or to produce fuel," Milliken said. The way the water is distributed across the Moon gives clues about its source, the researchers said. The distribution is largely uniform rather than splotchy, with concentrations gradually decreasing toward the equator, the study said. That pattern is consistent with implantation via solar wind -- the constant bombardment of protons from the Sun, which can form hy-

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 45

The News You Like | October, 2017

droxyl and molecular water once emplaced. Although the bulk of the water mapped in this study could be attributed to solar wind, there were exceptions. For example, the researchers found higherthan-average concentrations of water in lunar volcanic deposits near the Moon's equator, where background water in the soil is scarce. Rather than coming from solar wind, the water in those localised deposits likely comes from deep within the Moon's mantle and erupted to the surface in lunar magma. The study also found that the concentration of water changes over the course of the lunar day at latitudes lower than 60 degrees, going from wetter in the early morning and evening to nearly

bone dry around lunar noon. The fluctuation can be as much as 200 parts per million. As useful as the new maps may be, they still leave plenty of unanswered questions about lunar water. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper, which supplied the data for the research, measures light reflected off of the lunar surface. That means that it can't look for water in places that are perma-

nently shadowed from the sun's rays. Many scientists think these permanently shadowed regions, such as the floors on impact craters in the Moon's polar regions, could hold large deposits or water ice. "Those ice deposits may indeed be there, but because they are in shadowed areas it's not something we can easily confirm using these data," Milliken said.

46 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The News You Like | October, 2017

Scientists detect 4th gravitational waves S

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cientists have detected a fourth gravitational wave signal coming from the merger of two black holes. It's the first time this phenomenon has been measured simultaneously by both the US-based LIGO and Italy-based Virgo detectors. Originally predicted in the early 20th century by Albert Einstein, gravitational waves -- ripples in space and time -- were not detected until 2015, when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) identified the first such signal from two merging black holes. LIGO's two detectors, located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington, later detected two other similar events. The latest observation was made on August 14, 2017. It's the first gravitational wave signal recorded by the Virgo detector. "Today, we are delighted to announce the first discovery made in partnership between the Virgo Gravitational-Wave Observatory and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the first time a gravitationalwave detection was observed by these observatories, located thousands of miles apart," said France Cordova, Director of the US National Science Foundation, which funded the LIGO project. "This is an exciting milestone in the growing international scientific effort to unlock the extraordinary mysteries of our universe," Cordova added. The detected gravitational

waves were emitted during the final moments of the merger of two black holes with masses about 31 and 25 times the mass of the Sun and located about 1.8 billion lightyears away, researchers said. The newly produced spinning black hole has about 53 times the mass of our Sun, which means that about three solar masses were converted into gravitational-wave

energy during the coalescence, they said. A paper about the event has been accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters. The Virgo collaboration, which joined in the LIGO's observation on August 1, consists of more than 280 physicists and engineers belonging to 20 different European research groups.

RESEARCH

The News You Like | October, 2017

E coli in drinking water

Researchers develop faster, affordable test R

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esearchers at the University of Waterloo have invented a fast, affordable way for developing communities to test their drinking water for potentially deadly E coli. Unlike current tests that cost about $70 and can take up to three days to get back from the lab, the Waterloo invention uses paper strips similar to those in litmus tests to produce results in less than three hours at a cost of 50 cents. “This has the potential to allow routine, affordable water testing to help billions of people in the developing world avoid getting sick,” said Sushanta Mitra, executive director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology. It is a breakthrough now being refined by Glacierclean Technologies Inc., a startup company co-founded by Mitra. The test could also improve water safety in remote or rural areas of the developed world and greatly reduce testing costs for

municipal treatment systems. Researchers targeted E coli the culprit in a deadly outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000 because it is an indicator organism of water contamination. The bottom of the paper strip developed by Mitra and his colleagues is laced with sugar, which begins to dissolve when placed in water. E coli bacteria are attracted by the resulting sugar trail and get trapped in the porous paper when they come in contact with it. As water enters the paper, it carries the trapped bacteria into an area of the strip containing a mixture of chemi-

cals. The E coli react with those chemicals and turn the strip pinkish red to signify a positive test. With high levels of contamination, a result is produced in just 30 minutes. Low levels of contamination take up to 180 minutes. Work is underway to reduce test times. Glacierclean, which already sells mobile water kits to detect E coli for about $5 a test, hopes to have its DipTest strips on the market within nine months. “Simple ideas create paradigm shifts in technology and this is a simple, frugal innovation,” said Mitra.

TECH TROUBLES

The News You Like | October, 2017

Smartphones can be injurious to kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mental health T

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he increasing use of smartphones and the internet by schoolgoing children and teenagers is slowly exposing them to less important and more addictive things like cyber bullying and online pornography, mental health experts have warned. Reports suggest that an increasing number of teenagers are being trapped into the deadly Internet game Blue Whale Challenge. A Google Trends report of the past 12 months shows a sharp spike in the number of searches related to the Blue Whale Chal-

lenge in India. "Smartphones are addictive in nature and the Internet can be misused for games such as Blue Whale Challenge, pornography, etc," says Deepti Kukreja, Consultant Psychiatrist, Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. The recent death of the 17year-old teenager, Satvik Pandey, who killed himself by jumping in front of a running train in Damoh in Madhya Pradesh, has been linked to the Blue Whale Challenge. According to some friends of Pandey, he was "quite absorbed in the Blue Whale game for the past few days". A CCTV camera

installed at a house near the railway tracks recorded the episode. "The terror of Blue Whale has been a wake-up call for all the parents and teachers. We as modern and educated adults need to monitor, educate and sensitise children to the judicious use of smartphones in order to avoid negative experiences," psychiatrist Mrinmay Das from Jaypee Hospital said. So widespread has been the impact of the Blue Whale Challenge that Fortis Healthcare recently launched a 24x7 helpline to provide psychological support to

TECH TROUBLES

The News You Like | October, 2017

teenagers getting trapped in the macabre online game. The helpline -- 8376804102 -- is available for anyone who is directly undergoing undue mental stress and anxiety as a participant in the challenge. This deadly game operates on the basis of a one-on-one interaction between the curator and the player with the use of certain 'code' hashtags to find each other. "Also, the use of smartphones distracts children not only from studies but also from extra-curricular activities such as sports, cultural activities," Kukreja said. "It eats into the normal social interaction that young children should have and limits their social and emotional development," she added. The other cons of mobile phones being used by schoolchildren may also lead to problems such as lower academic performance, fear of missing out, weak eyesight, disturbed sleep cycle, headaches and fatigue. Taking note of the ill effects of

smartphone use, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in August issued an 18-point guideline for the safe and effective use of the internet and digital technologies in schools and school buses. Schools need to promote a safe and secure educational environment for effective teaching and learning and to discourage students from actions detrimental to themselves, their peers and the value system, the CBSE stated. "Not only Blue Whale Challenge but numerous other internet and mobile phone games develop a sense of fierce competition, frustration and addiction among school children," psychologist Bhavna Barmi of Fortis ESCORTS Heart Institute in New Delhi pointed out. Barmi even advocated banning mobile phone use by schoolgoing children. Such a measure, according to her, would help them better concentrate on academics, develop self-control and intrinsic will power.

"It will foster better interpersonal development among students and will act as a preventive measure against full-blown Internet or smartphone addiction," Barmi added. It is important for parents to place themselves in the shoes of their children to understand their perspective better, and after forming the appropriate rapport, engage in effective guidance and vigilance about the usage of mobile phones. Those parents who feel that they may need mobile phones to contact their children during emergencies, should keep in mind that the school authorities generally provide the contact services in case of any emergency or absence from the school. "Supporting them by talking to them, spending more time with them, making them understand the pros and cons can help kids to develop a better understanding about smartphone usage," psychiatrist Manish Jain of BLK Super Speciality Hospital said.

RESEARCH

The News You Like | October, 2017

Scientists find way to convert bad body fat into good fat

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here's good fat and bad fat in our bodies. The good fat helps burn calories, while the bad fat hoards calories, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a way to convert bad, white fat into good, brown fat, at least in mice. The findings raise the prospect of developing more effective treatments, in people, for obesity and diabetes related to weight gain. The study is published Sept. 19 in the journal Cell Reports. White fat stores calories and pads our bellies, hips and thighs. In contrast, brown fat, found near our necks and shoulders, burns calories through a process that generates heat. The researchers found that

blocking the activity of a specific protein in white fat triggered the fat to begin to brown into beige fat, a type of fat in between white and brown. Blocking the protein to create beige fat caused the fat cells to heat up and burn calories. "Our goal is to find a way to treat or prevent obesity," said first author Irfan J Lodhi, PhD. "Our research suggests that by targeting a protein in white fat, we can convert bad fat into a type of fat that fights obesity." Beige fat was discovered in adult humans in 2015. Though it is almost like an intermediary between white fat and brown fat, Lodhi, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, said it functions more like brown fat and can protect against obesity. His team conducted a series of

experiments in mice, creating a genetic strain of animals that didn't make a key protein in their white fat cells. Those mice had more beige fat and were leaner than their littermates, even when they ate the same amount of food as other mice. They also burned more calories. When Lodhi's team blocked PexRAP in the animals, the mice converted white fat into beige fat that could burn calories. More than two-thirds of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. Some 30 million people have diabetes. These findings study suggest that if therapies could help convert their bad fat into good fat, those numbers might start to decline. Lodhi said if the PexRAP protein could be blocked safely in white fat cells in humans, people might have an easier time losing weight.

SPORTS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Five-year-old girl sets two records in archery

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ive-year-old archer Cherukuri Dolly Shivani, who hails from Vijayawada, stunned audiences with her ability and entered the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records recently. She began practising the sport when she was barely three. Shivani created the first record by firing 103 arrows from a distance of 10 metres in just 11 minutes and 19 seconds with a compounding bow and Indian arrows. She attempted her second feat by releasing 36 arrows from a distance of 20 metres in a record time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds,

and scored 290 points out of 360. Shivani's brother Cherukuri Lenin, an international archer and coach was killed in a road accident soon after the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Shattered by the incident, Cherukuri Satyanarayana and his wife Krishna decided to opt for surrogacy, and Shivani was born in 2012. As her father Satyanarayana, also the Chairman of the Volga Archery Academy wished, "she is carrying forward her brother's and forefathers legacy, whose forefathers were archers during the Kakatiya dynasty." Satyanarayana said, ''She is now concentrating on the upcom-

ing Cherukuri Lenin-Volga Memorial Tournament in the under-9 and under-14 categories of the archery competition, which is scheduled to take place in the last week of October." In the upcoming tournaments, Shivani will be representing Andhra Pradesh. "Our ultimate dream is that Shivani should represent the country in the 2024 Olympics and make our country proud," he said. "She is a very enthusiastic and sharp kid, and is a quick learner. We are much confident about her, and hope she will do well in upcoming eventsâ&#x20AC;? her coach L Chandrasekar said.

SPORTS

The News You Like | October, 2017

PV Sindhu nominated for Padma Bhushan award

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he Sports Ministry has nominated ace shuttler PV Sindhu for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award. Sindhu now joins former India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the second sportsperson to be nominated for the country's third highest civilian honour this

year. The 22-year-old Hyderabadi shuttler was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award -- the highest sporting honour in India -- in 2016 and the Padma Shri in 2015. Sindhu, the Rio Olympics silver medalist, was also a silver medalist at the World Badminton Championships in Glasgow last month. She recently beat Japan's Nozomi Okuhara to become the first Indian shuttler to clinch the Korea Open Super Series title. She beat reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara 22-20, 11-21, 21-18 to win her third super series title in the year. In the process, she exacted sweet revenge for her World Championship defeat last month, where she had lost to the same player. The 22-year-old Hyderabadi won in an hour and 24 minutes at the SK Handball Stadium. Okuhara had conquered the Hyderabadi in the World Championships final in August in Glasgow. After the August 27 win, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist Okuhara, 22, had taken a 4-3 lead in career meetings against Sindhu. Last week, Sindhu had jumped two places to the second spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) women's singles rankings. Meanwhile, according to sources, the ministry also recommended India's first individual Olympics medalist wrestler KD Jadhav's name for the prestigious Padma Shri, 33 years after his death. Jadhav had won India's first individual Olympics medal by clinching a bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

SECURITY

The News You Like | October, 2017

India's second indigenous nuclear submarine to be launched soon Aridhaman will have a seven-blade propeller powered by a pressurised water reactor and can achieve speed upto 12-15 knots on surface and 24 knots under water.

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ndia's second indigenous nuclear submarine is likely to be launched in a few weeks, government sources said. Launching of a boat refers to the process of transferring the vessel to the water from a dry dock. Once launched, the boat will undergo extensive sea trials before it is inducted in the Indian Navy sometime in 2019. The launch is likely to be done by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in keeping with the tradition that a boat is launched by a woman. The first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant,

was launched in 2009 by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur. INS Arihant was quietly inducted in the Indian Navy in August 2016. It was the first nuclear attack submarine built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Being built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, the second boat, Aridhaman, will have double the number of missile hatches than its predecessor. It will also be powered by a more powerful reactor than INS Arihant's 83 MW pressurised

light-water reactor. Aridhaman will have a sevenblade propeller powered by a pressurised water reactor and can achieve speed upto 12-15 knots on surface and 24 knots under water. It has eight vertical launch tubes and can carry up to 24 indegenously-developed K-15 (Sagarika) missiles or eight K-4 missiles. The K-15 has a range of 750 km while the K-4 has a range of 3,500 km. INS Arihant has four vertical launch tubes and can carry 12 K-15 missiles or four K-4 missiles. The K-4 missile was developed as the Agni-III missile could not be deployed on INS Arihant due to space constraints.

CAMPAIGN

The News You Like | October, 2017

Isha volunteers bat for Rally for Rivers at Osmansagar

MANDHA RAVI KUMAR

olunteers of Isha Foundation have organized an awareness programme at Osmansagar Lake in Gandipet on account of World Rivers Day on September 24. The event was organized in response to the call given by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation, as part of Rally for Rivers programme. Apart from Isha Foundation volunteers and activists, elected members of local bodies from Kanapur, Manikonda, Kokapet, Kismatpur and HMWSSB manager Venkat Rao took part in the programme. Isha Foundation volunteers ex-

plained the participants about the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depleting rivers and the need for draft policy solution being proposed as part of Rally for Rivers programme. The volunteers also explained that citizens can extend their support for the massive campaign by giving a missed call to 8000980009. The participants expressed extreme happiness over the campaign. They gave a missed call to 8000980009 during the event and conveyed that they would ensure that all residents of nearby villages are made aware of this campaign and would encourage citizens to give a missed call to 8000980009. Rally for Rivers is a campaign

spearheaded by Sadguru, who is driving 7000 kms across the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, conducting major awareness events in 16 states, 23 cities, to create awareness about the country's depleting rivers and to recommend a draft policy solution for rejuvenating the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rivers. A policy recommendation is being proposed to the governments with a comprehensive solution to rejuvenate our rivers by planting trees for up to 1 km on either side of the rivers, forests on government land and fruit trees on farm land, resulting in increased river water flow and multiplying farm incomes.

CULTURAL

The News You Like | October, 2017

CULTURAL

Hyderabadis celebrated Dusshera with pomp nad religious fervour. Dandia Nights were organised across the city. We bring you an image description of Dandina Nights organised by Gleefiein Phoenix Arena in Hi-Tech city.

The News You Like | October, 2017

WEIRD NEWS

The News You Like | October, 2017

Cannibal family that ate 30 people in Russia held A

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suspected ‘cannibal family’ has admitted killing and eating at least 30 people over an 18-year period. Police found body parts including meat and skin throughout the house in southern Russia. Gruesome pictures issued by prosecutors show someone’s head on a platter surrounded by oranges. Another picture shows a suspect with someone’s severed hand in their mouth. A third picture shows body parts inside a jar where they were being preserved in some kind of liquid. Dmitry Bakshaev, 35, is one of the accused persons and he is believed to have told police he started eating humans in 1999 – the year the head on a platter picture was taken. His wife, Natalia, 42, has also been arrested after the discovery of the evidence at their home in Krasnodar. Bakshaev and his spouse stored human remains in their fridge and freezer as well as a cellar, according to sources in the Russian Investigative Committee which examines serious crime in Russia. Seven packs of frozen body parts were found while some ‘meat’ was discovered preserved in jars. Some 19 remains of ‘human skin’ were also discovered which had been ‘removed from dead people’. A bucket and a bag containing body parts have been found along with a bag containing one of the

Dmitry Bakshaev

alleged victim’s possessions. Workers discovered a mobile phone with selfies of a man with human body parts. The pair are said to have used a drug to knock their victims out and people complained that they could smell it outside their room in a hostel at the military academy, ac-

Natalia

cording to neighbours. A worker said: ‘Each time we tried to enter their room, they started wild shouting and crying. Natalia is a scandalous woman, aggressive, so we did not risk it.’ Investigators said that they were looking into other murders to see if they were linked.

LIFE STYLE

The News You Like | October, 2017

Junk food aďŹ&#x20AC;ecting Delhi youth's sex drive

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unk diets and low-nutrient food, rising stress levels and body weight concerns are some of the biggest factors wreaking havoc on the sex life of the National Capital's young urban population, according to a survey by hospital chain Max Healthcare. The citywide study conducted among 800 men and women in the age group of 21 to 40 years to understand the impact of various lifestyle choices, habits and disease patterns on their sexual activity. The study found that 'most of those surveyed suffered from sexual dysfunction symptoms.'

Worse, 'nearly 18 per cent of them alone confirmed loss of interest in sex due to high intake of junk food and the resultant weight gain.' 'The survey revealed interesting insights on what men and women perceived about their lifestyle habits and the consequent effect they have on their sexual health. 'For example, hormonal issues and weight concerns impact sex drive among women while for men lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits dampen drives,' said Dr Sujeet Jha, director of endocrinology, diabetes and obesity at Max Hospital (Saket), which conducted the study. 'It showed us that about 79 per

cent women above 30 years of age blame hormonal issues for reduced sex drive. However, 77 per cent women in the age group of 21-30 years feel weight issue as a leading cause. On the other hand, 76 per cent men above 30 years of age blame irregular/no exercise as a leading cause of reduction in sex drive, followed by 75 per cent men in the age group of 21-30 years who feel unhealthy eating habits are to blame,' adding that 75 per cent men who follow a healthy diet have a strong sex drive, while only 23 per cent men who are unhealthy eaters claim a strong sex drive. Similarly, men and women are poles apart in their reaction to levels and types of stress, and its consequent impact on their sexual health. Men, irrespective of stress levels continue to have a higher sexual drive in comparison to women. Also, social pressures bother women more while job pressure can dampen the drive for men.

LIFE STYLE

The News You Like | October, 2017

'Over 42.5 per cent stressed men stated that they continue comparison to 36.8 per cent stressed women. Professional stress leads to reduced sex drive in men (21.1 per cent) more than women (9.5 per cent) and women rated social pressure (66.8 per cent) followed by family pressure (48.8 per cent) and then job pressure (42.4 per cent) as the biggest cause of stress. Men rate job pressure (52 per cent), followed by social pressure (49.4 per cent) and family pressure (41.5 per cent) as leading causes of stress. Most sexual dysfunctions result from metabolic problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and obesity besides hormonal problems like low testosterone levels,' the survey said. Over 88.3 per cent people with ideal BMI (Body Mass Index) have strong sex drive as compared to those who are obese. However, sexual satisfaction levels are disproportionate to Body

Mass Index (BMI). Other top doctors echo the concern over losing sexual desire due to obesity and eating junk food. Dr Anoop Misra, chairman of Fortis C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases & Endocrinology, told MAIL TODAY that about 40 per cent of men above 40 years of age are facing problems in sexual activities due to lifestyle disorder. 'These days what is adding to their health woes is pollution. Fer-

tilisers and chemicals in food is another factor,' he said. Dr Rajeev Mehta, psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said an unhealthy diet and junk food can reduce the production of normal hormones which creates problems in sexual activities. This imbalance in hormones leads to weight gain, mental and physical stress. Mehta said lifestyle disorder is 'one of the major causes of sexual dysfunction in the urban population.'

HEALTH

The News You Like | October, 2017

Popular facial creams contain cancer-causing agents

THE NEWS BUREAU

ome popular brands of facial creams that are advertised as containing "activated carbon" for better results can be harmful to the skin and even cause death, scientists say. Application of such face creams may bring quick results and prolonged use could be disastrous, warns a study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) at Howrah in West Bengal, The study, published in the "Applied Nanoscience" journal, was partly funded by the central government's Department of Science and Technology. The researchers say they found the active micro-carbon used in these face creams to contain nanosized particles called "reduced graphene oxide (rGO)". Under exposure to visible light,

rGOs get activated by oxygen in the air to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) harmful to skin, says the report. "The common effects of ROS are cancer, cell proliferation and aging." "Such face creams are potential cancer-creating agents," Sabyasachi Sarkar, chemistry professor at the Institute and lead author of the report, told this correspondent in an email. "The irony is our film stars and players advertise them without knowing that they are promoting death." Activated carbon powder (also called activated charcoal) has long been in use in the purification of water, as an air filter and in adsorbing pesticides and other harmful substances. However, its use in facial cream formulations -- supposedly to combat dark-spots, acne, oily skin and for getting a fairer skin -- is a recent development, says the report.

"The common side-effect of any face cream is itching, allergy, dry skin, pimples or photosensitivity," the authors say. "However, the use of micro-carbon in facial creams poses extra problem as it contains a fair proportion of rGO." Using state-of-the-art microscopic and spectroscopic techniques the researchers investigated the presence of micro-carbon in three popular brands and noticed the presence of spherical nanocarbon in some samples and graphene-like sheets in other samples. For studying the toxic effect of rGO, the scientists incubated human skin cells with rGO dilutions for12 hours under a 200-watt light source and found that the isolated rGO has a "cytotoxic" effect on these cells. The results indicate that the active micro-carbon used in facial cream contains enough graphene material like rGO, which has high cytotoxic effect, says the report. "The rGO present in microcarbon remains dormant but gets aggravated under normal light and through oxygen in the air, converts to a toxic super-oxide anion. The superoxide anion is the first member of the ROS which will have a cascading damaging effect on living cells and would mutate the normal facial cells readily," the report says. The study concludes that manufacturers of such facial creams "should ensure that the micro-carbon that they use should not contain nanocarbon-like rGO".

SPIRITUAL

The News You Like | October, 2017

Couple embrace monkhood Leaving 3-year-old daughter and Rs 100 crore wealth

My brother and sister-in-law who are issueless have gladly adopted her. My father's family is rich and so is my father-in-law's family

THE NEWS BUREAU

namika Rathore, a 34-year-old woman from Surat and her husband Sumit Rathore became Jain monks, renouncing property worth Rs 100 crore and their threeyear-old daughter. When the couple had first announced their decision a week back, the Gujarat child rights panel filed a complaint against them for leaving their 3-year-old child and had sought a report from the civil administration and the police. In the complaint, concerns were raised about the daughter's future.

The city police commissioner had then called the Jain community leaders and lawyers to discuss the issue after the report was sought. Meanwhile, Anamika had told the officials that her child will "not become an orphan" if she leaves. "My brother and sister-in-law who are issueless have gladly adopted her. My father's family is rich and so is my father-in-law's family," she said. The Jain community leaders have said that Rathore's family members will take care of the child. The legal formalities for adoption are in process.

- Anamika Rathore

"The legal formalities for adoption and custody of the child are being completed by the family members in Neemuch. The child is being taken care by family hence it is not a major issue," Indrachand Kher, a Jain community leader said. Anamkia was given 'diksha' by Sadhu Margi Jain Samaj Acharya Ramlalji Maharaj at a function held in Surat on September 25. The couple, who married four years ago, had decided to become monks when their daughter was eight months old and they had reportedly started preparing for it back then.

SPIRITUAL

The News You Like | October, 2017

Darkness or Light... Its your choice to choose C

YOGI ASHWINI

an there be light in a dark room? Or if there is light, can the room be dark? Think about it. There can be no light if there is darkness, there can be no darkness if there is light. You have to choose - darkness or light. Deepawali is the darkest night of the year, the night of kartik

amavasya. It is the night when the dark forces are at their peak, the night which is ideal for black magic and occult practices, also a perfect occasion to veil oneself in the darkness of alcohol and gambling…if darkness is what you choose. However, the darkest hour also holds within it the promise of a new dawn…The night of Diwali is also the night when it is easiest

to access the power of light - the residents of Ayodhya chose light. A single ray of light is enough to dispel darkness and Ayodhyavasis lit each and every corner because that was the intensity with which they wanted light. And so, Ayodhya was blessed with the homecoming of Ram, Sita and Lakshman. The essence of Diwali lies in the shloka, ‘tamso maa jyotir

SPIRITUAL

The News You Like | October, 2017

gamaya’, that is, take me from darkness to light, light here referring to the light of internal gyan – the glow of which attracts the devi (Lakshmi) home. It is a night not to ask for more and more wealth, but the night to request the Goddesss to give you wealth but also detach you from it because all that is physical is nashvar (temporary)…it will go and when it does, it will give you immense pain. Starting from the 13th day of krshna paksh of the month of ashwin till the 2nd day of shukl paksh of month of kartik, the energy of various nakshatras is focussed on earth and on the night of kartik amavasya, that is Diwali, the energy patterns are especially conducive for the manifestation of

gods in general, and Goddess Lakshmi in particular. The interesting thing about Goddess Lakshmi is that she cannot stay at one place of long. If one traces the life of Sita, this fact would be evident. She emerged from the earth, spent her childhood at Raja Janak's, to be married off in Ayodhya, to be exiled to the forests, to be abducted to Lanka and then be rescued and returned to Ayodhya only to leave for Rishi Valmiki’s Ashram and finally merge back into the earth. Neither Janak, nor Ram, or Ravan or even Luv and Kusha, could keep her for long…such is the swaroop and shakti of Goddess Lakshmi. It is foolish to even think that you can hold on to her and the wealth and physical riches that she brings with her...all of it is bound to leave. So instead of waiting for Goddess Lakshmi to come to your house and shower wealth and physical pleasures upon you, this Diwali try something different. Ask, but also give. Have fun, but also be prepared by asking for detachment from the physical. The physical is governed by the

energy world and each one of us has the potential to access these energies and create all that is physical. Sanatan Kriya details the shodakshri mantra, ‘ka ee ai la hreem ha sa ka ha la hreem sa ka la hreem’, which when chanted along with lighting a lamp of cow ghee in front of the devi, bestows one with physical wealth as well as gives the route to exit maya. However for any mantra to have desired effects, it is important to receive it from your Guru, who is siddha in the mantra and hence has the capacity to transfer it to you. If one looks at his/her life he/she will realise that there is pain in every aspect of pleasure - the pain of loosing that pleasure. This is a trait of Lakshmi (maya), yet we run after that which is temporary and is sure to leave us....all in the hope that it would never leave us. We should not forget that the Goddess Lakshmi rides on an owl (ullu)... Tamso ma jyotirgamaya....is the only hope and the only pleasure, rest all is pain. May you all realise the full potential of the shakti on this Diwali...blessings.

FLIX

The News You Like | October, 2017

Biopic on Mithali Raj T

THE NEWS BUREAU

he life story of Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian women's cricket team, will now be told through a Bollywood biopic, Viacom18 Motion Pictures announced on Tuesday. She hopes it inspires young girls to explore sports as a career. The rights for the biopic of the cricket star have been acquired by the studio which has backed content-driven films like Queen, Manjhi: The Mountain Man, Drishyam, Mary Kom, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha in the past. "I am extremely happy on this association with Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Hoping that this movie inspires more people especially young girls to take up sports as a career," Mithali said in a statement. Mithali Raj is the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket and the only woman cricketer to surpass the 6,000 run mark in ODIs. She is also the first player to score seven consecutive 50s in ODIs, apart from being the first Indian to have led the national

team to an ICC ODI World Cup final twice 2005 and 2017. An Arjuna awardee, Mithali was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2015, India's fourth highest civilian award for her contribution to cricket. Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said in a statement: "Viacom18 Motion Pictures has always been the pioneer in showcasing content with portrayal of strong women characters right from 'Queen' to 'Kahaani' to 'Mary Kom'." "We are proud to be collaborating with the young and inspirational Mithali Dorai Raj, a name single-handedly responsible in bringing about a shift in the way women's cricket team was perceived in our country." The association between Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Mithali Raj has been facilitated by Varun Chopra - Director, Medallin Sports. Chopra said: "Mithali remains an inspiration for multitudes for many years now and her story on the silver screen will keep motivating generations."

The News You Like October, 2017

RNI No: APENG/2013/48048 P.R. No. LII/RNP/HD/1187/2017-19 (DOP: 1st of Every Month; DOP: 8/9-10-2017)

May light triumph over darkness. May peace transcend the Earth. May the spirit of light illuminates the world. The News wishes one and all a very happy and safe Diwali