Manipur Police have tightened security to check the possible influx of migrants after a draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) published in neighbouring Assam has sparked fears that many may be declared non-Indians.

Director General of Police L.M. Khaute has supervised security measures along the Assam-Manipur border on the state’s eastern side to check entry of outsiders whose names are not on the NRC.

On Monday, the Assam government published the draft which includes names of 1.9 crore people of of the total 3.29 crore applicants. The process of updating the NRC began in 2013 and it was carried out under the guidance and instructions of the Supreme court.

As many as 68.27 lakh families comprising of 3.29 crore applicants had submitted 6.5 crore documents in support of their citizenship claims.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said: “Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been rushed to Jiribam district to ensure that undesirable persons do not enter (our state).”

Police in Jiribam have demolished six bamboo bridges across Jiri river, a detour route migrants use to avoid security checks.

Security personnel were also deployed at the Mao gate as many migrants might enter Manipur from the National Highway-2 that links Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, the police said.

Police are also being deployed along the Assam-Tamenglong highway and Jessami in Ukhrul district.

Authorities had conducted security checks in Jiribam district where some people without identity cards were detained. Some were found to be using fake voter IDs.

The Samajwadi Party has called a meeting of opposition parties on Saturday to discuss the “functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs)” and to “join hands in opposing the future use of EVMs”, said a party leader on Thursday.

Party state unit chief Naresh Uttam said he had written to the leaders of the Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Lok Dal, Communist Party of India and CPI-M, inviting them for the meet.

The BSP has refused to attend. All other parties, except the Congress, have confirmed they will take part. It is also seen as an effort to forge opposition unity before the general elections in 2019.

Parties that lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in early 2017 have been alleging manipulation of the EVMs in favour of the BJP.

The Samajwadi Party has demanded that all future elections should be held under the old and time-tested ballot paper system as they “had lost faith in the EVMs”.

BSP chief Mayawati has for long been alleging that the EVMs have been tampered to electorally benefit the BJP.

The Supreme Court on Jan 4 allowed Bihar Cricket Association to participate in Ranji Trophy and similar other national-level cricket championships.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra made it clear that Bihar, which had not been allowed to participate in national-level cricket tournaments, must play cricket.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said that Bihar Cricket Association, which has been elected by virtue of an apex court order, shall be in- charge of the game in the state.

“This order has been passed keeping in view the cause of cricket,” the court said, adding that it will not create any equity in favour of the Bihar Cricket Association.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Thursday said his party’s Rajya Sabha members would cooperate with their AIADMK counterparts in the Lok Sabha for getting a facility on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement here, Stalin said the Central government has failed to fulfil its promise of setting up an AIIMS in Tamil Nadu despite making an announcement in the 2015-16 Union Budget.

According to Stalin, an expert team from the Central government in 2015 had visited the five sites (Thanjavur, Madurai, Pudukottai, Erode and Chengalpattu) offered by the Tamil Nadu government for setting up the AIIMS.

After the state government delayed information asked by the Central government to proceed further, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, in August this year, had ordered the Central government to finalise the location by December 31.

But till date, the location has not been finalised, Stalin said, urging the Central government to take immediate steps to build an AIIMS in the state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a special gift – the Gal-Mobile water desalinisation and purification jeep – to his friend Narendra Modi during his visit to India starting January 14, according to sources here.

Netanyahu and Modi waded into the Mediterranean Sea and rode the “buggy” jeep on the coast during the latter’s visit to Israel in July last year.

Now Netanyahu is going to gift the same jeep to Modi, informed sources said.

As Netanyahu prepares for his four day visit to India, sources confirmed that the jeep has “indeed” left for India and “would be arriving on time” to be presented by the Israeli Prime Minister to Modi.

The jeep is said to cost around 390,000 shekels (approximately USD 111,000).

Modi and Netanyahu had witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Israel.

“I am thankful to Bibi (Netanyahu) because the vehicle which I saw today, particularly during a natural calamity when people are suffering (shortage of) drinking water…Can provide drinking water,” Modi had said after the demonstration.

Gal-Mobile is an independent, integrated water purification vehicle, designed to produce high-quality drinking water. It can be useful in natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, military use in difficult terrain and rural areas to provide drinkable water.

It can purify up to 20,000 litres per day of sea water and 80,000 litres per day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards.

The camaraderie between the two leaders was on full display as they spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet.

“There’s nothing like going to the beach with friends!,” the Israeli leader had later tweeted.

The two leaders later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit, which looked like a dune buggy, and sipped desalinated water from wine glasses, raising a toast with others present there.time” to be presented by the Israeli Prime Minister to Modi.

The jeep is said to cost around 390,000 shekels (approximately USD 111,000).

Modi and Netanyahu had witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Israel.

Actress-producer Dia Mirza is excited to work on Rajkumar Hirani’s yet untitled Sanjay Dutt biopic, but doesnt want to take stress by thinking how it will take her “career as an actor in a new direction”.

Dia will be seen playing the role of Sanjay’s wife Manyata in the biopic.

“I’m very very excited about the Dutt biopic and my work in it. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by thinking about the fact that it might take my career as an actor in a new direction,” Dia told IANS.

The biopic features Ranbir Kapoor as the protagonist. It also stars Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Karishma Tanna, Vicky Kaushal and Jim Sarbh.

The film, written and directed by Hirani, will be opening up facets of Sanjay’s personal as well as public life on the big screen.

After winning the Miss Asia Pacific 2000 title, Dia made her Bollywood debut in 2001 with the film “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein”.

Despite having a successful debut, she could not sustain the golden run in the Hindi film industry. She featured in Bollywood films like “Deewaanapan”, “Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge”, “Dum” and “Kurbaan” that bombed at the box office.

Apart from acting, Dia has stepped into the filmmaking business. She co-owns a production house, Born Free Entertainment, with her husband Sahil Sangha. Her last production venture was “Bobby Jasoos” in 2014.

The actress hopes to evolve as an actor and a producer with each project.

“As an actor and a producer, I hope I can continue to evolve, grow and contribute. That’s what my primary focus is… to just keep making better choices, keep learning and growing,” she said.

Dia is also known for her philanthropic activities. She has been appointed UN Environment Programme’s Goodwill Ambassador for India.

Talking about her passions, she said: “I have a very privileged and kind of a life that allows me to pursue my passions in various dimensions, be it film production or acting in films as an actor or hosting shows…

“My work as an ambassador for the United Nations and the Wildlife Trust of India, the work that I do with the Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Save The Children, these are all integral aspects of who I am,” she added.

Top seed Dominic Thiem of Austria survived the upset wave by getting past Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene 7-5, 6-4 in the Qatar Open tennis tournament here while Russia’s Andrey Rublev withstood Spain’s Fernando Verdasco to set up a quarterfinal tie against Borna Coric.

Thiem made a strong start breaking Bedene to take a 4-1 lead but Bedene fought back to level the set at 4-4 on Wednesday. Thiem then missed three set points before converting on his fourth to win a close first set 7-5 when Bedene hit a Forehand wide.

In the second set, Bedene put up a stiff resistance as he came under repeated pressure from the top seed. The World No. 49 saved nine of 10 breakpoints but a lone break was sufficient for Thiem to close out the match in straight sets.

After the match, Thiem said that he was pleased to get through in straight sets. “It was a tough match, but I expected it and had two tough matches which I both won in straight sets. So I think that’s a perfect start to the New Year. If you have to fight a lot, if you have to suffer a bit, I think it’s very good like this. You get a lot of tough situations already in the first matches, and that’s why I’m happy with the start.”

Rublev withstood a late charge from veteran Fernando Verdasco to win through in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The young Russian did not serve well in windy conditions and both players were inconsistent splitting the first two sets.

But in the third set, the quality of play improved and Rublev was able to get the crucial break with some consistent tennis. When serving for the match, Rublev faced two break points as Verdasco came up with some big forehands.

But Rublev held on strong and brought up match point with a forehand winner. Rublev completed the win with a strong serve to set up a quarterfinal against Borna Coric who won through easily against Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Rublev elaborated on the reasons for his win. “I think in third set, I was quite focused. I was quite calm. I was not showing emotions. I was trying to focus on the points and the rallies. That was the main part when I start to play a little bit better. And then I win.”

Eight seed Feliciano Lopez also bit the dust against qualifier Mirza Basic 6-4, 7-6(2). But crowd favourite Gael Monfils came through against Jan Lennard Struff 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

Popular Telugu anchor Pradeep has gone missing after being caught driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol on 31st December, 2017.

It was New Year’s Eve, when Pradeep was caught by the police driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and when the cops asked for a breath analyser test, his result came out to be 178 points, which is almost five times the normal level!

The cops seized his vehicle and asked him to commute back to his home in a cab and issued a counselling session along with his parents.

The anchor failed to appear before the counsellor and it was at this time when the cops noticed that Pradeep has gone missing. They found his door locked and was even reported that the anchor is also not coming to the office.

According to police officials, Pradeep is expected to attend the counselling session today (January 4) and if he fails to appear again then the case will be transferred to the Law and Order wing of the Police department.

Reports also suggest that if the actor will not co-operate with authorities then he will be sentenced to at least one week of imprisonment.

Pradeep’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday denied breach or leak of Aadhaar data after a newspaper reported it bought unrestricted access to the details of over one billion Aadhaar numbers — for just Rs 500.

“The Aadhaar data, including biometric information, is fully safe and secure,” the authority said in a statement, calling the report in Media”a case of misreporting”.

“UIDAI assures that there has not been any Aadhaar data breach,” the statement said, adding that the data was secure with a “robust uncompromised security”.

The authority said it had given search facility for the purpose of grievance redressal to designated personnel and state government officials to help residents only by entering their 12-digit Aadhaar numbers.

The grievance redressal search facility, the statement said, “gives only limited access to name and other details and has no access to biometric details”.

It said the authority maintains complete log and traceability of its search facility and any misuse was traceable.

“The reported case appears to be instance of misuse of the grievance redressal Aadhaar data based fully Secured search facility. As UIDAI maintains complete log and traceability of the facility, the legal action including lodging of FIR against the persons involved in the instant case is being done.”

The Aadhaar database “remains fully safe and secure with highest encryption at UIDAI and mere display of demographic information cannot be misused without biometrics”.

It said 12-digit ID number was not secret and had to be shared with authorized agencies whenever an Aadhaar holder wishes to avail certain service or benefit of government welfare schemes.

“That does not mean that the proper use of Aadhaar number poses a security or financial threat. Also, mere availability of Aadhaar number will not be a security threat (and) will not lead to financial (or) other fraud, as for a successful authentication fingerprint or iris of individual is also required.

“Claims of bypassing or duping the Aadhaar enrolment system are totally unfounded. The UIDAI Data Centres are infrastructure of critical importance and is protected accordingly with high technology conforming to the best standards of security and also by legal provisions.”

UIDAI slams media report

The Media report, which was widely shared on social media sites, claimed that it took just Rs 500 and 10 minutes for the newspaper to get an access through an “agent” to every detail of any individual submitted to the UIDAI, including name, address, postal code (PIN), photo, phone number and email.

The newspaper said it paid another Rs 300, for which the “agent” provided “software” to facilitate the printing of the Aadhaar card after entering the Aadhaar number of any individual.

The Media also claimed to have found in its investigation that the racket may have started around six months ago when some anonymous groups were created on WhatsApp.

These groups targeted over three lakh village-level enterprise operators hired by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (ME&IT) under the Common Service Centres Scheme (CSCS) across India, offering them access to UIDAI data.

CSCS operators were initially entrusted with the task of making Aadhaar cards across the country but were withdrawn later. The service was restricted to post offices and designated banks to avoid any security breach in November last year.

Everton Football Club are close to signing their first winter target — Turkish forward Cenk Tosun, coach Sam Allardyce said here on Thursday.

“Personal terms are in the final stage,” the 63-year-old told reporters.

“After some long negotiation we have got to that stage now. That might happen before the cup, we might get him registered before the cup if we are lucky.

“There is a medical and all sorts to go through so that might be very tight. Securing the player is the most important thing because it has been the club’s biggest area of concern,” Allardyce added.

The Everton coach said the 26-year-old has shown potential at and he hopes him to prove the same in the London club. “Hopefully he will come to the club and show that he is good value for money.”

An incident of a Chinese road construction party entering Indian territory and Beijing’s statement on not recognising Arunachal Pradesh was raised in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Revolutionary Socialist Party member N.K. Premchandran urged the government to make a statement on the incident.

“Chinese entered Indian territory, there were attempts to construct a road. Up to one kilometre they constructed. They were then stopped by people and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force.

“They had come up till the Siang river basin, so my point is upper Siang basin is being aggressed upon,” Premchandran said.

“Further the Chinese spokesperson openly stated that Beijing has never recognised the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a provoking statement on China’s part,” he added.

“I would like to know the response of government of India on the Chinese aggression,” he said.

A road building party from China entered Indian territory in a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh in December-end and were sent back by the Indian troops.

Around December 26, they were found constructing a track around two kilometres away from the nearest Indo-Tibetan Border Police post.

A nearly 600 metre long and 12 feet wide track was constructed on Indian territory when the Chinese party was stopped.

The area where the Chinese workers entered is close to the place where Brahmaputra river enters India.

Indian troops pushed back the labourers and seized the equipment. While there was no confrontation between troops on both side, Indian troops have barricaded the area since and have been guarding it.

Asked about the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: “First of all, on border issues with India, China is clear and consistent.

“We never acknowledge the existence of so-called Arunachal Pradesh,” Geng said.

Singer Taylor Swifts lawyers have asked a federal judge to dismiss the copyright lawsuit regarding her 2014 hit track “Shake it off“.

According to the lawyers’ argument on Wednesday, the phrase “players gonna play and haters gonna hate” is a musical cliché that should be in the public domain, reports variety.com.

In a footnote, they also cited numerous other references to “players” and “haters” in pop culture, including the 1977 song “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, which includes the lyric — “Players only love you when they are playing“, and “Playa hater“, the 1997 Notorious B.I.G. song.

Swift was sued in September, 2017 by songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler. They have also co-penned “Playas gon’ play” for the girl group 3LW in 2001.

The chorus of that song includes the phrase, “Playas, they gonna play, and haters, they gonna hate“.

The Dakar Village Fair, a prelude to the world’s toughest rally, the Dakar 2018, opened its doors in Lima showing Peruvian culture and customs, before the 9,000 km race through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina begins on January 6.

In two days the drivers will start off from the Village trying to win the race. Among the favourite racers are Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma, France’s Stephane Peterhansel, Sebastien Loeb and Cyril Despres, and Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, reports Efe.

The Peruvian fans began attending the event on Wednesday, eager to see the 540 vehicles which will compete in the rally after having arrived just a few days ago at the port of Callao, the neighbouring city of Lima after they were shipped from France.

The drivers on Wednesday began to make first technical reviews and prepare their vehicles for the event’s first stage on Saturday when they will have to master the tracks between Lima and the city of Pisco, some 250 kilometres south of the capital.

The Dakar Rally, which returns to Peru this year after a five year hiatus, celebrates its 40th edition, and for the tenth time is taking place in South America.

Chongqing Lifan has announced the signing of Brazilian winger Fernandinho da Silva on a free transfer from Copa Libertadores champions Gremio.

Fernandinho had been in talks with the Chinese Super League club since Gremio ended their 2017 season with a 0-1 loss to Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in December, reports.

“It is hoped that in the new season Fernandinho can continue to maintain his level, rising to new challenges and achieving even better results,” Chongqing Lifan said on their official website on Wednesday.

Fernandinho will join fellow Brazilians Alan Kardec, Hyuri and Fernandinho Conceicao in Chongqing Lifan’s squad.

The 32-year-old played 57 matches in 2017 and scored 12 goals, including a stunning long-range strike in the Copa Libertadores final against Argentina’s Lanus after running half the length of the pitch.

Chongqing Lifan finished 10th in this year’s Chinese Super League standings with nine wins, nine draws and 12 losses from 30 matches.

The latest buzz from the tinsel town has surprised everyone as Saif Ali Khan’s son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, will follow the legacy of his family by acting in films.

It was not long ago when people got to know about Saif’s eldest child Sara Ali Khan’s career plan of making her Bollywood debut in the upcoming film Kedarnath. Now, it seems like Sara’s brother is also set to follow her, as he has shown a keen interest in acting.

According to Saif, who is a little worried about his son’s acting interest, says that Ibrahim and other star kids like Aarav Kumar (Akshay Kumar’s son) want to have a chiseled muscular body and act in films.

“Ibrahim, Aarav (Akshay Kumar’s son) and that group of youngsters want six packs and aspire to be Bollywood stars. I don’t know if anyone wants to be an actor. It is kind of disturbing because not everyone makes it,” Saif told a known newspaper.

While Sara is busy prepping up for her upcoming debut film, we now know that her younger brother will soon follow his family’s footsteps.

Whether the young lad will win hearts with his performance like his parents (Saif and Amrita Singh) will only be known when the official announcement for his debut will be made.

But as of now, the star kid has surely got all the eyeballs for his good looks and resemblance to dad Saif and has become one of the most popular star kids around the block.

🌞

A post shared by Ibrahim Ali Khan (@iakpataudi) on Jul 25, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT

🎄The Gut 2k17

A post shared by Ibrahim Ali Khan (@iakpataudi) on Dec 19, 2017 at 7:12am PST

A post shared by Ibrahim Ali Khan (@iakpataudi) on Jun 25, 2017 at 9:37am PDT

The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 63.3914 against the US dollar and 76.2472 for the euro.

The corresponding rates were 63.4833 and 76.5418, on Wednesday.

The according to an RBI statement, the exchange rates for the pound and the yen against the rupee were 85.7432 and 56.31 per 100 yens, respectively, based on reference rates for the dollar and cross-currency quotes at noon.

The SDR-rupee figure will be based on this rate, the statement added.

Two railway gangmen were killed after being hit by a goods train while inspecting a railway line, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place near Ujhani Railway station when gangmen Dilip (32) and Hasif (30) were inspecting the railway line.

Due to severe cold both of them had covered their ears and probably could not hear the approaching train, police said.

The bodies have been sent for postmortem.

A probe has been ordered by railways.