Kerala Blasters FCs newly-appointed coach David James believes he can replicate his first seasons performance with the team and guide them to the final of the Indian Super League season four.

The former England goalkeeper spent a year at Kerala Blasters as marquee player-manager during the inaugural edition in 2014 and took the team to the final where they were unfortunate to lose at the death against Atletico de Kolkata, now ATK.

He has now returned to the club for a second stint following the departure of Rene Meulensteen and, despite Kerala Blasters having just eight points after eight matches, James still believes this team can go far in the ISL.

“I might be a fan of Kerala Blasters, but I am not stupid. If I didn’t think the squad was capable, I wouldn’t have come,” James said after his side managed a 1-1 draw against FC Pune City in his first game as in-charge.

“I joined the club on the basis that we have a good squad capable of winning ISL,” the former England goalkeeper told reporters during the post-match media interaction.

The former Blasters’ marquee player-cum-manager feels the club has the best fans he has witnessed and is happy to be back in the league which is growing rapidly.

“The league is gaining popularity every passing season, and I am happy to be back at my former club having the best fans.

“It’s been a turbulent 48 hours for the club and myself. I just got here. We didn’t have much of training, instead we spoke to each other and put the set pieces for the game,” said the former England No1.

James described his first match opponents as the best in the league and was happy with his side’s second-half comeback.

“Pune showed their quality. On another day, we would have won the game. We played that well in the second-half against the best team in the league,” he said.

A special NIA court here has framed charges against four persons for their role in the March 2017 Bhopal-Ujjain train blast that left eight people injured, paving the way for their trial.

The act they are accused of was, the court for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases said, “dangerous for the security and sovereignty of the country”.

Judge Girish Dixit framed charges against Mohammed Danish (27), Atif Mujaffar (22), Gaush Mohammed (56), all residents of Kanpur, and Sayyad Mir Hussain (18), a resident of Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh), on Thursday.

Another accused, Saifullah, was killed in an alleged encounter with Uttar Pradesh police a day after the blast.

The accused, being “members of the (Middle-East) terror organisation Islamic State (IS)”, carried out a terror activity which was “dangerous for the security and sovereignty of the country”, the order framing the charges said.

The accused carried out a blast by planting explosives on a Bhopal-Ujjain train with the intention to kill passengers after hatching a criminal conspiracy, the order said.

The court framed charges against them under sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code, under the Explosive Substances Act for (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property), and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Railways Act.

Three of the accused were arrested from Pipariya in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh within hours of the blast after their images were captured on CCTV cameras. the fourth accused was arrested from Lucknow.

A blast on the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train near Jabdi station in Shajapur district, about 80 km from Bhopal, had left eight people wounded on March 7, 2017.

The State Bank of India said it is looking at revising minimum balance amount and penalty charges in the wake of all-round criticism for raking in a windfall profit of over Rs 1,771 crore from customers in penalty for non-maintenance of monthly average balances in their savings accounts.

The country’s largest lender which has over 402 million savings account holders, had reintroduced monthly average balance (MAB) charges from April 2017 after a gap of five years. Accordingly, the bank demands Rs 5,000 in MAB in metros and Rs 1,000 in rural accounts, failing which it charges a penalty.

As a result, between April and November 2017, the bank had netted a windfall of Rs 1,771.67 crore, which is more than its second quarter profit, as penalties from customers for non-maintenance of MAB, finance ministry data showed.

“A review of the monthly average balance is something we’ve been looking at continuously since we had brought it back in April and we have already brought it down in October a bit. Now we are in the process of reviewing it again,” MD for retail and digital banking, PK Gupta, told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday.

He said the bank is doing a comprehensive review of the MAB and penalty for non-maintenance of the same, based on the feedback it has received and will soon announce it.

Currently, the bank has a MAB of Rs 3,000 for the metro and urban accounts and the non-maintenance penalty varies Rs 30-50 plus taxes.

For semi-urban and rural branches, the amount is fixed at Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively and the penalty for non-maintenance is in the range of Rs 20-40 plus taxes.

SBI has close to 40.5 crore saving bank account customers.

SBI had reintroduced monthly average charges from April 1, 2017, but had to revised downwards the penalties for non-maintenance of the minimum balance from October 1, after facing backlash from customers.

While between April and October, the MAB was Rs 5,000 for metro accounts, which was brought down to Rs 3,000 per account. The penalty was also reduced from Rs 50-100 to Rs 20 -40, plus taxes.

The bank recently said on an average balance of Rs 3,000 in the metros, SBI earned only Rs 6 a month whereas for a minimum balance of Rs 1,000 in rural, it earned on Rs 2 per month which is meagre compared to the services offered and the corresponding costs incurred by the bank (free cheque books, 8 free ATM transactions, free branch transactions).

The bank had said savings bank accounts such as Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana, small accounts and basic savings bank deposit accounts, pensioners, minors and all social beneficiary accounts are exempted from MAB requirement and no charges ever have been recovered.

Delhi’s first automated commercial vehicle fitness testing centre will be opened during the current month, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said.

All commercial vehicles, including buses, taxis, autorickshaws, heavy and light commercial vehicle, among others, have to undergo testing and get a fitness certificate.

The testing centre at Jhuljhuli of west Delhi would be better compared to visual inspection currently done at the testing facility in Burari of North Delhi, according to officials. New commercial vehicles have to be tested and also every year after the first two years, for the vehicle’s overall performance and its condition.

“For the past one month, we have been doing fitness testing of school buses and AITP (All India Tourist Permit) buses at the Jhuljhuli centre on a pilot basis,” Delhi Transport Department Special Commissioner K.K. Dahiya told IANS.

The testing of different parts of a vehicle like brakes and headlights will be done by machines and a test result would be generated.

Dahiya said that the new centre would take pressure off the only vehicle fitness testing centre in Burari. The Jhuljhuli centre, set up in three acres of land, is a joint venture between the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Delhi government.

Dahiya said that the Burari centre will continue to function and they plan to automate the centre by the end of the current year.

A Transport Department official told IANS that the automated centre would end corruption as it would not be up to the inspecting officer to give the fitness certificate and the whole process would be more transparent.

“If the vehicles are in a better condition it would also decrease road accidents,” the officer said.

According to officials, the drivers waiting area of the centre is under construction.

China has begun working on its third aircraft carrier, a development reflective of its ambition to become a dominant sea power. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has reported that work on the aircraft carrier began after March last year.

The paper quoted a source saying that work was still on at the carrier’s hull and will be finished in about two years. The source also said building the third carrier will be challenging than the other two.

China last year launched its first home-grown aircraft carrier, which is likely to operate later this year. The one in service, Liaoning, was bought unfinished from the former USSR.

The sources, according to the report, said it was too early to say about the launch of the third aircraft carrier. According to naval experts, China plans to have four aircraft carrier battle groups in service by 2030.

With maritime disputes and tensions with several countries, China is rapidly building its navy. Beijing is locked in a dispute with five littoral states in the South China Sea while its claims to Senkaku islands are contested by Japan.

Its submarines have been spotted in the Indian Ocean where China is flexing its muscles. China last year established its first overseas military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

Another reason for China’s naval buildup is to ensure the safety of the planned maritime route under the ambitious Belt and Road project.

The project aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe through a network of ports, sea lines, highways and railways. The second-most powerful navy after the US, China has some 65 submarines whereas India has 14. In comparison to China’s 48 frigates, India has 14.

Experts say China’s Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine models are quieter than the American nuclear ones. However, China’s overall naval strength is still far behind that of the US.

Despite the relationship hitting rock bottom, India has ruled out the possibility of withdrawing the Most Favoured Status (MFN) status it had granted to the neighbouring country more than two decades back.

“Presently, no proposal to review MFN status to Pakistan is under consideration,’” Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar told the Rajya Sabha.

He said India had accorded the MFN status to all WTO members, including Pakistan, in accordance with provisions of the Article 1 of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1994. However, it was unfortunate that Pakistan has not fulfilled its international obligations in this regard, so far.

The government’s clarification in Parliament assumes significance against the backdrop of growing chorus in the country for withdrawing the MFN status to Pakistan, which has not reciprocated the Indian gesture and continues to aid and abet terrorism on the Indian soil.

The MFN status is a level of treatment accorded by countries interested in increasing trade with each other. This status leads to certain important trade advantages such as reduced tariffs on imported goods. Special consideration is given to countries classified as “developing” by the WTO, which also enforces the status.

India had conferred the MFN status on Pakistan in 1996. Since then, it has been waiting for reciprocal steps by Islamabad.

Pakistan has already bestowed MFN status on over 100 countries, including its all-weather friend China, but has been hesitant to do so in the case of India because of the fear that Indian exporters may flood Pakistani markets with their merchandise once normal trade is allowed.

In fact, terrorist outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), have also opposed any move to grant MFN status to India.

The granting of MFN status to India was also part of the India-Pakistan composite dialogue, which was suspended by New Delhi following the beheading of Indian soldiers in January 2013.

The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing the fodder scam case will announce former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s sentencing via video conferencing tomorrow.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief’s lawyer Chittaranjan Sinha said that the sentencing will be announced at 2 pm tomorrow via video conferencing.

Hearing over quantum of sentence for five accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, was completed at Ranchi special CBI court earlier on Friday.

On Friday, Lalu had moved an application before the court on health grounds and sought minimum punishment in the case.

In a plea filed in the court of Justice Shivpal Singh, Lalu’s lawyer has pleaded to the court have mercy on his client who is a heart patient and also has diabetes.

The plea further said that the Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi, where Lalu is lodged at present doesn’t have clean drinking water which could be harmful to Lalu’s health.

Moreover, there’s no provision for any medical care in case of an emergency, the court was told.

Therefore, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief should be let off with minimum punishment.

The request comes a day after Lalu told the court that he felt very cold in the jail to which the judge replied play ‘tabla’.

Interestingly, the judge on Thursday revealed that he was getting phone calls from “Lalu’s men” about the case indicating that he was being threatened.

On 2 January, the former Bihar CM’s lawyer had urged the court for minimum punishment owing to the RJD chief’s age.

Lalu is likely to get three to seven years’ punishment, as per reports. If he is awarded three years’ sentence, he will be able to get bail soon.

The fodder scam relates to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury 21 years ago.

His co-accused and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra was let off in the case pertaining to embezzlement of over Rs. 85 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

A total of 17 accused including Lalu were pronounced guilty by the court while six were let off.

The RJD chief has already been convicted in another fodder scam case that cost him his Lok Sabha seat and disqualified him from contesting elections. Both Lalu and Jagannath Mishra are out on bail in the case.

Hearing in the multi-million fodder scam case was completed on December 13 in a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court of Ranchi.

In all, there were 34 accused in the case, out of which 11 died during the course of the trial, while one turned CBI approver and admitted the crime.

(With agency inputs)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said it was India’s responsibility to guide the world as footprints of Indian culture were found all over the globe.

Speaking in the inaugural function of the three-day ‘Shaiv Mahotsav’ here, Bhagwat said, “The footprints of our culture are found all over the world.”

The Indian culture is universal and teaches the art of living to the entire world, he said.

“Lord Shiva is the symbol of world unity. It is our duty to guide the world,” the RSS chief said.

“The first name of Lord Shiva was Rudra, which means power. There is no point in being Shiva without power. Rudra was Shiva who destroyed all evil powers,” Bhagwat said.

The character of a nation or an individual should be like Shiva, Bhagwat said. “There is no need of war for peace.

For (achieving) this, all selfishness needs to be sacrificed,” he said.

Bhagwat and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented Durgadas Ambadas Mule of Maharashtra with the ‘Mahakaleshwar Ved Alankaran” award.

Shankaracharya of Bhanpura Peeth, Swami Divyanand Tirth inaugurated the three-day long religious convention.

A postal stamp issued on Shaiv Mahotsav was released on the occasion.

Veteran Thai golfer Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand is prepared to take on a new role of a mentor when he represents Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup next week.

Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal of India will rely on the world No.49 Kiradech to put points on the scoreboard and to guide the younger players when they go up against Thomas Bjorn’s Team Europe at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

There are as many as six Asia debutants in Gavin Green, Phachara Khongwatmai, Poom Saksansin, Li Haotong, Sunghoon Kang and Yuta Ikeda.

Other members of the team are Kiradech, Anirban Lahiri of India and Malaysian Nicholas Fung, who will make their third appearance in the EurAsia Cup.

At 29, Kiradech is seen as the ‘senior’ in the team as compared to his teammates Phachara, who will be the youngest player so far to play in the EurAsia Cup at the age of 18 followed by China’s Li (21). Reigning Order of Merit champion Green and Thailand’s Poom who are both 24.

“This is a big event for Asia and I really want to make Asia proud. I will bring all my experience with me and help my team and the new and younger players. There are so many ‘kids’ in the team and I will do my best to guide them and improve our team,” said Kiradech.

Kiradech will also be joined by Kang, a PGA Tour regular, Ikeda, the highest ranked player in Team Asia where he sits in 35th position on the Official World Golf Ranking and Hideto Tanihara, who was part of the 2014 team who secured a dramatic 10-10 draw against Team Europe.

“It is a big change for me. I would like to think that I’m the third generation of Thai golfers after Boonchu Ruangkit and Thongchai Jaidee. Now younger players look up to me and it is so different! They (Boonchu and Thongchai) even Arjun (Atwal) have done so well to inspire so many young golfers to play golf professionally.

“The young players in the team are so good and they will do well. They will just need some guidance from the more experienced players. We have a strong team this year. I have to congratulate Gavin (Green) because he played fantastic golf in 2017. So did the other players,” said the Thai.

Known for his grip-it and rip-it style of golf, Kiradech enjoyed a stellar 2017 season where he won on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) followed by two runner-up results on the European Tour.

He also finished tied fifth at the Asian Tour’s season-ending Indonesian Masters where he played through a back injury and eagled the 72nd hole to finish inside the top-50 in the world and qualify for The Masters in April.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Mohit Raina spent six months to grow his beard to get into his character as Havildar Ishar Singh in “21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897”. The actor says getting the look was the most challenging part, but it was worth it.

“I have always been fascinated by defence services. As a student of army school, I was always surrounded by men of discipline. It is an honour to play a Havildar who laid down his life for his motherland,” Mohit said in a statement. “To look the part was the most challenging task, but the research/creative team has done such a wonderful job. Minuscule details were taken care of… hoping the audience likes the first look and accepts the part,” he added.

The show “21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897” is a work of fiction inspired by the real-life story of 21 brave soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army who defended an army outpost at Saragarhi in the North-West Frontier Province against an onslaught by over 10,000 Pashtun and Orakzai tribals in September 1897.  The show will beam on Discovery JEET. It is being produced by Abhimanyu Singh’s Contiloe Pictures Pvt Ltd.

The 2018 Dakar Rally will attract over 1.5 million spectators in Peru, according to an estimate announced by the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Commerce and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros.

About 90 per cent of the audience will be Peruvian, while the remaining 10 percent will be foreigners, mainly from Chile, Brazil and France, Ferreyros said on Thursday, reports.

The attendance estimate includes visitors to the Dakar Village Fair, an outdoor festival organised near where the rally starts, which is expected to attract more than 150,000 visitors in three days, and spectators during the six stages of the race held within Peru.

On its way to Bolivia and then Argentina, the Dakar Rally will pass through the Peruvian regions of Lima, Ica, Arequipa and Puno, where the competitors will pass by the western shore of the world’s highest navigable lake Titicaca at 3,800 metres above sea level.

In addition to the Dakar Village, which will feature giant screens, official items stores, virtual reality experiences and official vehicle exhibitions, there will also be two other similar fairs in the cities of Pisco (Ica) and Puno.

The Dakar Rally is scheduled to begin on January 6 from Lima with over 337 vehicles competing in the event and will travel over 9,000 km to its finish point in Cordoba, Argentina on January 20.

Actor Prabal Panjabi, who is seen essaying the role of Aniket in bindass’ Tere Liye Bro, says that outsiders are much more talented than the insiders in the industry, however, the insiders have opportunities, better access to networking, but a balance of it is required.

Excerpts from the interview;

When did you decide to pick up acting as a career option?

I was still in college when a senior of mine who had just graduated became a producer on a Disney TV series called ‘Kya Mast Hai Life’. I landed a gig on that show. While it was never a defiant career choice, I started enjoying all aspects of cinema.

Initially it was about surviving and thriving in Bombay. We know the rents are high and the apartments are small. But my passion for it began on the stage in school. It was the first thing that drew me slightly away from sports and I was like how can something engage me more than being on a field. This must be my calling.

Who was your biggest support in your decision?

My family without a doubt! All of them! My mom, dad and sister and a lot of people who have grown alongside me in this city.

As an actor, what preparations do you make to get into the skin of the character?

To be honest, I haven’t done a lot of preparations as an actor. I try to let go. I let go of my inhibitions. Some workshops have given me certain tools to incorporate while performing, but a lot of times, it is pure instinct and it goes wrong at times.

There are times when you look back at something and go Aah! I could have done that differently.  Also living a fulfilling life otherwise away from your work is also highly enriching as an actor.

Comedy seems to be your forte. Are you afraid of experimenting with genres?

Not at all! Comedy is something that people think I am only good at. I believe I have a good range as an actor. It’s also about getting a good meaty role which is diverse and not one dimensional.

People have appreciated you for your comic timing and one-liners. But how difficult is it to make people laugh?

Intention is the key and having your own state of being is important. It gives you timing; it gives insight into what someone will find funny or not. Also your own authenticity and being effortless is important as trying too hard to be funny will never make people laugh.

How different is it to act in a film and in a web series or television show?

I think one of the major differences would be the time factor. There is more time in a film, before during and after. I think with the web explosion, a lot of the production gets constrained, because of budget and time issues. I do feel there is more gravitas while working in a film; the stakes are higher for everyone working on it.

With web I feel people are taking their craft a little more lightly. I mean we are living in an era where there is so much content being produced on a daily basis. You will just be a blink and a miss if you don’t spend more time and effort on your own craft respectively.

Talking about Shahid, that was a different movie. What made you decide to sign that film?

It was accidental. I bumped into the casting director outside his office and he made me meet the director who told me to grow my beard and show up on set. It was accidental, but it was enriching. I always wanted to be in an indie film and get the feel of it, the tag of it. You don’t have vanity vans, there is not a lot of HOO HAA! It is about the story, the performance and coming to the truth of it.

Share something about your character Aniket in Tere Liye Bro?

Aniket or the projection of Aniket, in bindass’ ‘Tere Liye Bro’ is someone who doesn’t take life too seriously. He wants to make the most of it with his buddies and he always has a cheeky grin on his face. He is the kind of person who would talk to a CEO or a janitor the same way.

So how is Aniket different from Prabal in real life?

He’s a bit more over the top, than me. He drinks more than me, at least from what is mentioned in the script. And he is left handed. Hah! I would say he is more switched on.

If not an actor, then what would Prabal have been today?

I keep asking myself that every other day. I have just started writing; let’s see where that takes me. I have always enjoyed art and sports. Either of the two; I constantly keep reminding myself of one thing though. Be a verb in a world full of nouns. I think Stephen Fry said that. It allows you to explore your mind and your being more.

Do you agree with the fact that being an outsider is a disadvantage in this industry?

Absolutely! There is way too much talent in an outsider, than the insiders. The insiders have opportunities, better access to networking, all of it. I think a balance of it is required. There will be too many things an insider will be able to pull off which an outsider wouldn’t dare approach and vice versa.

So how would you describe your journey so far in the industry?

It’s been up and down. Sometimes the closer you get to it, you don’t enjoy the things you see, and sometimes you want to just have blinders and create what you want to create. There was a time in the middle when I was hosting a travel show and I was in and out of Bombay for two years. I felt disconnected and was out of contacts by the time I settled back again. Nonetheless, it’s a journey; it’s still on-going with new surprises in store, work and otherwise.

What are your New Year resolutions?

My resolution is to create more. Keep tweaking life here and there, before and after on a daily basis but never specifically around the New Year.

One thing that is certain is that I will be working more this coming year.

Dry skin is common in winter. Invest in natural moisturisers made from papaya and lemon or try a honey and coconut mask, suggest experts.

Partap Chauhan, Director and Megha Sabhlok, Brand Director have some tips:

* Hibiscus, honey and coconut oil anti-ageing mask: Hibiscus flower (gudhal) contains natural alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHA) which makes the skin fresh and improves flexibility, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the botox plant.

Boil a hibiscus flower in two cups of water until about half a cup remains. Now, add honey and coconut oil to the mixture and apply on face and neck. Wash off with lukewarm water after 10-15 minutes.

This mixture is a great moisturiser and exfoliator which leaves your skin supple, fresh and bright.

* Indulge in a facial massage: It is important to get a facial massage once every two to three days to make sure that the facial muscles get an improved circulation. Make sure you massage your face with a moisturiser or face cream well in circular strokes.

This is helpful for the skin to attain the perfect moisture. Look for a moisturiser or face cream with ingredients like ashwagandha, neem and sandalwood as well as cold-pressed oils like sunflower-seed, almond and aloe vera, as these ingredients can do nourishing wonders to your skin.

* Papaya and lemon moisturiser: Papaya has amazing health and beauty benefits. It is loaded with vitamins A, C, E and K, all of which make your skin really soft and supple. It is also a good source of antioxidants. Also, it has a buttery consistency which makes it easy to use.

Mash a ripe papaya and squeeze the juice of half a lemon in it and mix well. Apply this to your face and arms for 15 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water to get glowing and moisturised skin.

* Cleanse regularly: Even during winter, it is important to unclog the pores and remove the soil accumulated on the face. Most of us are afraid of the moisture loss problem that aggravates each time we wash our face.

Make sure to pick the right face wash for winters, which not only unclogs the pores but also hydrates the skin.

* Get rid of winter sun-tan: It is very important to use a face pack perfect enough to remove the sun tan and one which also provides you with the appropriate moisture that gets lost due to the chilly wind blowing across the face, avoiding dullness and dryness. An anti-tan rose face pack can be a good option for this.

* Orange-yogurt peel off mask: To half a cup of yogurt add two tablespoons fresh orange juice and make a fine paste. Use this as a mask on your face, neck and arms for 20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

This has a mild bleaching effect which will peel off dead cells, dirt and sebum giving you a radiant skin.

Orange juice also tones your skin and removes blemishes. After applying these masks apply a gentle cream. A skin toner and saffron cream tones the skin and brightens your complexion.

* Do not step out without a sunscreen: Try using a sunscreen that has aloe vera in it as aloe vera replenishes the lost moisture to restore the skin’s natural moisturising factor and controls sun-induced hyper-pigmentation in the form of freckles, thus maintaining the skin’s natural complexion.

The Indian economy is expected to grow at a slower 6.5 per cent in 2017-18 compared to the 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, official data showed on Friday.

According to the estimate of national income for 2017-18 released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant (2011-12) prices for 2017-18 is likely to attain a level of Rs 129.85 lakh crore.

“The growth in GDP during 2017-18 is estimated at 6.5 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016-17,” the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said in its estimate of National Income for 2017-18.

Earlier, the country’s GDP growth for the second quarter of the current fiscal ended September 30 was 6.3 per cent — up from 5.7 per cent reported during the first quarter of 2017-18.

A 63-year-old man, who was kidnapped from Lakhipur town in Goalpara district of Assam on Tuesday, was rescued today from Mansinggre Rongnak village in North Garo Hills of the state, a senior police officer said.

A joint team of Assam and Meghalaya police rescued Sukur Ali, a resident of Goalpara district of the neighbouring state, and nabbed four members of an inter-state gang that had kidnapped him, he said.

Two more were arrested from Assam yesterday, taking the count to those held in the case to six, the officer said.

“The rescue of the 63-year-old man was made possible by Assam police. They had managed to nab one of the kidnappers in their state and found out from him the names of other members of the gang,” Superintendent of Police, North Garo Hills, Dalton Marak, explained.

The motive behind the kidnap, however, is not clear as yet, Marak said.

“During the early morning operation, there was a brief exchange of fire but no one was injured,” the SP said, adding that two country-made revolvers and nine rounds of ammunition were recovered from the gang.

Two women died after being run over by a goods train at a railway crossing in Dadri town, police said today.

Roopvati (35) and Vimla Devi (38), residents of Gautam Puri, were hit by the train when they were crossing the tracks last night, they added.

The deceased were returning home from work, police said.

Both died on the spot, officials added.

 Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Friday urged fans of megastar Rajinikanth to avoid sacrificing goats at the Alagarkoil temple here to celebrate the actor’s entry into politics. Rajinikanth’s fans will reportedly do a puja at the temple on Sunday.

“The power you already hold can help make a positive difference to the lives of all living beings and we are therefore writing to respectfully request that you use it now to stop the planned slaughter of goats in your name,” PETA’s Lead – Public Policy Nikunj Sharma said in a statement.

“The plan of your fans to kill goats in a temple is cruel and an apparent violation of Indian laws. Goats who are killed are usually transported and handled roughly and hacked at with dull knives in full view of their terrified companions,” Sharma added. On December 31, 2017, Rajinikanth had announced his plans to float a political party.