Two tribal families were allegedly evicted by Maoists from their village in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kondagaon district, police said Sunday.

According to the victims, their homes Maoists threatened them their homes in Tumdiwal village earlier this weekafter they allegedly refused to give ration and levy to the outlaws.

Two cases have been registered in this connection based on the complaint of thevillagers, all natives ofTumdiwal village under Mardapalpolice station limits, a Kondagaon district police official told PTI.

In their statement, the victims said that a group of Maoists were recovering 20 kg of rice and levy from each home in the village in Mardapal area, located around 300 kms from the state capital, Raipur.

When they denied giving anything to the rebels, they held a 'janadalat' on April 27 where the victim families, comprising atleast 12 members including children were accused of acting as police informers and asked to vacate the village, the official said.

Besides, naxals also looted valuable and articles from the house of the two families, he said.

The incident came to light when villagers approached police on April 28, he said adding that all the victims will be provided with accommodation and other facilities.

According to police, the Maoists are losing their support base and are hence “terrorising” othervillagersto support them or quit their native place.

Poland's Foreign Ministry has suspended one of its honorary consuls in the US after the woman allegedly posted a digitally-altered image showing European Council President Donald Tusk dressed as a Nazi German SS officer.

The image was posted on the Facebook page of Maria Szonert Binienda, recently named honorary consul in Akron, Ohio.

The news agency PAP reported today that she has been suspended from that position and that further decisions will be decided after Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski returns from a visit to Australia.

Szonert Binienda told The Associated Press in an email that she never posted the altered image of Tusk and believes her account was hacked because she can't access it anymore.

"I did not make a photo of Donald Tusk as SS-man. I am against promoting SS symbols and ideologies. I am against using the words like 'fascism' in the public political discourse today. I am against comparing our politicians to Hitler," she wrote to the AP.

Szonert Binienda was named to her post by Poland's conservative ruling Law and Justice party, whose leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski is a long-time political rival of Tusk's.

Kaczynski has faulted Tusk for how he handled the aftermath of the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed his brother, President Lech Kaczynski, and 95 other people.

After winning the 2015 election, the party opened a new investigation into the crash, previously found to be an accident, believing that the original probe didn't answer all questions. Some party leaders believe there could have been foul play by Russia.

Szonert Binienda's husband, Wieslaw Binienda, a scientist and engineer, is a member of the government commission that is again looking into the plane crash near Smolensk, Russia.

"I am being subjected to media assassination over my involvement in the Smolensk matter," Szonert Binienda told the AP. "However, I am also for the freedom of speech expressed in the responsible manner. Therefore, I am concerned that this media onslaught on me has a chilling effect to suppress the criticism of Donald Tusk as a politician who cares more about the interest of Germany than Poland." 

One of Tusk's grandfathers served briefly in the German Wehrmacht during World War II, something Law and Justice has used against him. The grandfather had also been forced into labour by the Germans and was in a concentration camp. 

India is projected to see impact investments worth up to $40 billion by 2025 as the country is in a "sweet spot" with high potential to deliver solutions for various problems, according to global grouping GIIN.

Based in New York, the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is a not-for-profit group that works to promote impact investments and has around 230 members.

Generally, impact investments refer to those made with the aim of having a social and environmental impact along with the investors getting financial returns.

GIIN's Advisor for South Asia, Anil Sinha said, there has been tremendous development in India around impact investing activities in the last five years and the country is in a sweet spot.

"In India, about $4 billion has been invested as part of impact investments in about five years. On an average annual basis, it is around $1 billion," Sinha told PTI in an interview.

India is a place where poverty is high but the potential to deliver solutions is also very high, Sinha said, adding the country can be a global innovation hub for models that can address issues at the base of the pyramid.

"We hope there will be 25 per cent annual growth rate as it (impact investments) grow and it might grow from USD 4 billion to $35-40 billion in India by 2025," he said.

At current exchange rates, it translates to a range between Rs.2,24,000 and Rs.2,56,000 crore.

Globally, total assets under management by impact investors is estimated to be about $70 billion, according to Sinha.

The financial returns on impact investments is estimated to be around 10 per cent annually.

Sinha, a private sector finance specialist who has served in various roles at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said impact investments are evolving and their global growth rate is around 25 per cent.

He noted that financial inclusion and energy have been dominant areas in the $4 billion impact investment portfolio in India.

GIIN, as a promoter of impact investing activities, is looking to attract more Indian companies to be impact investors.

"We are certainly playing a role in defining the role of impact investing and social enterprises. We need to have our own definition of social enterprises," Sinha said.

Actress Emma Stone says she suffered from terrible anxiety during her childhood and always thought that she will not be able to move away from home ever.

The La La Land star, who has been vocal about her struggle with anxiety, says as a kid, she was worried the problem would keep her living with her parents for the rest of her life, reported Contactmusic.

"It has always been something that I've lived with and it flares up in big ways at different times in my life. Sometimes while it's happening, like while I'm in a phase of big turmoil, it feels like it's never gonna end – but it does.

"I truly, as a kid, did not think I would ever be able to move away from home or be apart from people I had separation anxiety with," Stone says. 

Indian golfer Shiv Kapur ended a 12-year wait for his second Asian Tour title when he turned in a blemish-free eight-under 64 in the final round to clinch the inaugural Yeangder Heritage here on Sunday.

Kapur was three-under for the front-nine and five-under for last seven holes to card 64 to finish as the clubhouse leader at 16-under 272.

“It feels great to finally win once again. After losing my European Tour card in 2015 and then being laid low by a liver abscess in 2016, it is a big relief,” Kapur said after the triumph.

Gavin Green (67) and Yikeun Chang (68) were tied for second at 14-under.

“It's been a long, long time and this will give me a lot of confidence. I knew it was going to be a low-scoring final round and my putter stayed hot,” said Kapur, whose 12-year wait for a second Asian Tour title exceeded the 11-year-wait by his friend and senior colleague Gaurav Ghei.

Ghei first won in 1995 and then a second time in 2006 — also in Taiwan, at the Mercuries Masters. Ghei went on to win a third title in 2007.

Of the Indians, Sujjan Singh (67) played a third straight round in 60s, including four birdies in the last five holes, to finish T-22 at five-under 283, as did Himmat Rai (71).

S Chikkarangappa, who was second after first round, shot 68, and ended Tied-27th because of two disappointing rounds on the second and third days. Khalin Joshi (70) was Tied-37th, Rahil Gangjee (70) was Tied-52nd and Chiragh Kumar (77) slipped to Tied-60th.

Kapur, 35, won his maiden title in his Rookie year in 2005 at the Volvo Masters of Asia. Since then he has come second four times and third three times and been between fourth and tenth another 21 times.

But his only wins, two of them, came at the European Challenge Tour events in 2013 in India and Dubai.

Starting the day in Tied-third at eight-under and two behind the leader, Yikeun Chang of Korea, Kapur with three birdies moved to 11-under and second at the turn.

The race was extremely tight, as Yikeun, who was two ahead after three rounds, and overnight second Gavin Green, one ahead of the Indian on Saturday evening, shared the lead at 12-under at the final turn.

Miguel Tabuena, in lead group with Yikeun and Green, was at 11-under, the same as Kapur and the Thai duo Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand and Poom Saksansin.

Rattanon birdied the 10th and joined the leaders at 12- under. Then on 12th, Kapur birdied as other parred to make it a four-way lead at 12-under.

Things became exciting on 13th, where all four birdied to get to 13-under. Yikeun and Rattanon bogeyed 14th to fall behind.

Then as Yikeun got back a birdie on 15th, Kapur also got a birdie to move to 14-under and become the sole leader with Yikeun and Green at 13-under.

Kapur kept up the pressure with another birdie on 16th and minutes later Yikeun one group behind replied likewise to keep the gap to one. Green fell two behind with a par and Rattanon was now two back.

When Kapur reached the 18th tee, the lead group was on the 17th green. But none in the lead group got a birdie on 17th and Kapur's lead stayed intact. Kapur settled all doubts with yet another birdie on 18th to move to 16-under for the clubhouse lead.

Rattanon at 13-under was fourth while Saksansin and Tabuena were Tied-fifth at 12-under.

Megastar Chiranjeevi on Sunday said S.S. Rajamoulis Baahubali franchise has let Telugu cinema grow beyond ones imagination.

Heaping praise on Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Chiranjeevi said in a statement: "It's an outstanding film. Rajamouli deserves all the accolades for creating a wonder like Baahubali. Hats off to the creator for letting Telugu cinema grow by leaps and bounds."

Chiranjeevi went on to congratulate the entire cast and crew of the franchise for the success.

With an estimated earnings of Rs 121 crore from first day across four languages, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is said to have registered the biggest opening for an Indian film.

Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan, the film is produced by Arka Media Works.

The government is considering a proposal to give preference to domestic manufacturing in public procurement, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said on Saturday.

"The government is considering a proposal to give preference to domestic manufacturing in public procurement. The Make in India Campaign has propelled significant changes in policies to strengthen the manufacturing sector," he said at the annual session of industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Abhishek said that the government is working on policies that include simplification of procedures and processes through ease of doing business, liberalising foreign direct investment, dismantling the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and reform in public procurement.

He further noted that an investment facilitation agency is working on investments of over $70 billion during the year, which will synergise investment promotion events at the state level for better results. 

Justin Bieber's close friend Madison Beer says the Pop star is in the happiest space right now.

The 23-year-old singer, who has had a number of brushes with the law since rising to fame, is completely focused on his career, reported Entertainment Tonight.

"He's at such a good place in his life right now and I'm just happy to see how happy and healthy he is.

"I mean, I think that Justin has such a regimen that he goes through, he's so focused and driven and, you know, he has

his head on straight, which is really important," Madison says.

Recently in an Instagram post Bieber also said that while he is "not exactly where I want to be", he is happier than he has been in some time.

Singer-actress Miley Cyrus has immortalised her Shetland sheepdog, Emu, by inking his face on her body.

The 24-year-old got inked on Friday by tattoo artist Dr. Woo, who is based at the Shamrock Social Club here, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The tattoo artist shared a photograph of Cyrus's hand on Instagram.

"Placed a young Emu on his mom," he wrote in the caption.

Emu joins the tattoo of another of Cyrus's pups, Alaskan Klee Kai Floyd, who was killed in 2014. 

He is placed just under the singer's armpit.

Cyrus, who's engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth, has dozens of other tattoos, including one of Saturn she got on her arm last summer.
 

Actor Joe Manganiello's friend and celebrity chef Art Smith gave him fried chicken as a wedding gift.

The Magic Mike XXL star tied the knot with Sofia Vergara in Florida in November 2015 and he says he was delighted when the chef agreed to provide food for their evening reception, reported Femalefirst.

"I love waffles. I'm a sucker for waffles. Waffles and fried chicken. As a present, my friend Art Smith came and made his fried chicken the night of my wedding.

"So he and his chefs came out with trays of fried chicken for everybody and then he made it again for the brunch the next morning. Which was just…I was in heaven. When he brought it out, it was gone. I mean, he brought, like, 400 pieces of chicken and they were gone in about two seconds. It's the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life," Manganiello says.

The actor says if he is not working he does not worry about his diet.

"I only need cheat days when I'm training for something. When I'm not, I just eat whatever the hell I want." 

The Bhutan government is preparing to move a motion to withdraw the controversial Motor Vehicle Agreement involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) during the joint sitting of the Parliament next month, in order to save it from being scrapped in Parliament, a media report said.

The government wants to withdraw the BBIN agreement from the voting process. This decision to withdraw remains even as Bhutan has informed the other member countries that once it completes the ratification process, Bhutan would join the group, Kuensel online reported.

That Bhutan is determined to ratify the agreement even at a later date indicates that it is not ready to scrap the pact. The agreement needs a two-third majority of the members present for ratification.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay earlier told Kuensel that due process would be followed if the agreement is withdrawn.

However, the government's effort to withdraw the agreement that is already with the joint committee is likely to be met with resistance as the Legislative Rules of Procedure (LROP) 2011 do not have provisions for withdrawal of a disputed bill, the daily reported.

If the bill fails to obtain the endorsement of the joint sitting, it will be declared a dead bill and no bill of the same substance will be deliberated in the same year. 

However, members of Parliament from the ruling party who are in the joint parliamentary committee are persuading the opposition and Council members to agree on the withdrawal of the agreement during the joint sitting. The 12-member joint parliamentary committee was formed to resolve the differences and propose recommendations to the Parliament.

Should the withdrawal option not come through, the agreement will go to vote, in which case it is likely to be rejected. The chairman of the joint committee, Ritu Raj Chhetri, said the best option for the committee would be to propose a withdrawal. "It looks like it will be tough to get support from the opposition and most Council members," he said.

The Council believes that ratifying the agreement, which aims to facilitate seamless cross-border movement of both cargo and passenger vehicles, will overwhelm Bhutan, the smallest country in the grouping. The opposition also argues that it will affect the livelihoods of Bhutanese transport operators.

The government argues that Bhutan's interests will be protected while enacting protocols, which will be the by-law of the agreement. An opposition member said it could support the agreement if such assurances were incorporated in the protocols and presented along with the agreement in the Parliament.

The government has repeatedly stated that the agreement does not open the floodgates for foreign vehicles. However, the Council remains unconvinced because of the principle of reciprocity the agreement upholds.

The government believes that implementation of the motor vehicle agreement, which is the first of any between the four countries, will open gates for cooperation in other areas. The government identified the agreement as the precursor to cooperation in other fields including connectivity, energy, trade and ICT, Kuensel reported.

The transport ministers of the four countries signed the agreement in June 2015 in Thimphu.

Unable to ratify the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) motor vehicles agreement, Bhutan has asked the three other members to go ahead without it, leaving them in a fix, the Kathmandu Post reported

Bhutan has communicated its decision to the Nepali Embassy in Delhi.

Sajid Khan's comedy film Housefull completed seven years of its release on Sunday, and the filmmaker says he is working on the fourth instalment of the franchise.

"House Full: can't believe it's been seven years. Feels like yesterday. Great team, great unit and a great franchise. 1,2,3 … time for the fourth," tweeted actor Riteish Deshmukh, who has been a part of the first three "Housefull" films. 

Replying to the actor, Khan said: "Working on it mere bhai (my brother)…Thank you friends for all the love you've given this fun, frolicking franchise. Sajid Nadiadwala and I thank you."

The first instalment of the film also featured Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan and Boman Irani.

The second and third instalments featured Asin Thottumkal, Jacqueline Fernandez, Zarine Khan, Shreyas Talpade, John Abraham, Shazahn Padamsee, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Abhishek Bachchan, Lisa Haydon and Nargis Fakhri apart from Akshay and Riteish. 

India is a nation of chocoholics and the country has one of the world's fastest growing chocolate markets which posted a huge 13 per cent sales growth last year, according to a research.

The research conducted by London-based global market firm Mintel states that while the chocolate sales in other nations have stagnated, India consumed 228,000 tonnes worth of chocolate in 2016.

Australia and Indonesia consumed 95,000 and 94,000 tonnes worth of chocolate respectively in 2016.

India (13 per cent) and Poland (2 per cent) were the only two markets to see sales of chocolate grow last year.

The sales in the US, the UK, Germany and France flat over this period, while sales fell in Russia (-2 per cent), Brazil (-6 per cent) and China (-6 per cent), it said.

"Chocolate confectionery had an uneven year in 2016.

Volume sales in developed markets remained flat, while the picture was a bit brighter in emerging markets, like India, where sales generally fared better," said Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink.

"Our research indicates that consumers in India believe chocolate to be beneficial and convenient seemingly the key reasons behind the growth of the country's chocolate confectionery market both in value and volume, Mogelonsky said.

India's chocolate confectionery market has had a strong CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 19.9 per cent, in retail market value between 2011 and 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.6 per cent from 2016 to 2020, the research said.

It said that over two in five Indian consumers (44 per cent) find sweet or sugary snacks like chocolates and cakes to be healthy, while over one in three (35 per cent) Indians believe these snacks provide them with energy.

According to the research, 43 per cent of Indians consume sweet or sugary snacks like chocolate and cake between lunch and dinner, with over half (53 per cent) reporting that they tend to snack in between meals because they get hungry.

As many as 19 pert cent of Indian consumers would like to see a wider variety of natural snacks that have no additives or preservatives, it said.

India is a nation of chocoholics and the country has one of the world's fastest growing chocolate markets which posted a huge 13 per cent sales growth last year, according to a research.

The research conducted by London-based global market firm Mintel states that while the chocolate sales in other nations have stagnated, India consumed 228,000 tonnes worth of chocolate in 2016.

Australia and Indonesia consumed 95,000 and 94,000 tonnes worth of chocolate respectively in 2016.

India (13 per cent) and Poland (2 per cent) were the only two markets to see sales of chocolate grow last year.

The sales in the US, the UK, Germany and France flat over this period, while sales fell in Russia (-2 per cent), Brazil (-6 per cent) and China (-6 per cent), it said.

"Chocolate confectionery had an uneven year in 2016.

Volume sales in developed markets remained flat, while the picture was a bit brighter in emerging markets, like India, where sales generally fared better," said Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink.

"Our research indicates that consumers in India believe chocolate to be beneficial and convenient seemingly the key reasons behind the growth of the country's chocolate confectionery market both in value and volume, Mogelonsky said.

India's chocolate confectionery market has had a strong CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 19.9 per cent, in retail market value between 2011 and 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.6 per cent from 2016 to 2020, the research said.

It said that over two in five Indian consumers (44 per cent) find sweet or sugary snacks like chocolates and cakes to be healthy, while over one in three (35 per cent) Indians believe these snacks provide them with energy.

According to the research, 43 per cent of Indians consume sweet or sugary snacks like chocolate and cake between lunch and dinner, with over half (53 per cent) reporting that they tend to snack in between meals because they get hungry.

As many as 19 pert cent of Indian consumers would like to see a wider variety of natural snacks that have no additives or preservatives, it said.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on April 29 launched its Disaster Recovery Centre (DRC) here, a statement said.

BSE DRC is a replication of the primary site and ensures that all data is available at disaster recovery site with near zero time lag.

Among others, the automation tool provides a real-time monitoring of the sync status between primary and disaster recovery sites and has also helped reduce manpower requirement for handling operations, BSE said in a statement.

With state-of-the-art infrastructure and allied facilities matching global standards, DRC would ensure seamless continuation of exchange operations, aid in diversifying the risk, and fortify the capabilities in terms of processes, people and technology infrastructure.

BSE DRC is designed in line with other global technology hubs which will invite more premier institutions to invest in Hyderabad.

Telangana's Information Technology, Industries & Commerce Minister KT Rama Rao inaugurated the facility.

BSE Ltd Chairman Sudhakar Rao said that they received the unstinting support of various state authorities, regulators and stakeholders here.

He said they have contributed in their own humble and modest way, in fulfilling the vision of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, of creating a globally attractive investment destination in the state.

"Today, therefore, is an opportunity for us to not only just diversify our risk and strengthen our competencies, but also participate in the state's growth story," he added.

Chinese industries maintained expansion in April, although at a slower pace than March, with 52.2 points on the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), 0.6 points less than March, authorities said on Sunday.

The figures did not meet the expectations of the market, but kept over 50 points for the ninth consecutive month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the PMI, figures over 50 show expansion, while figures below it reflect reduction of activity, Efe news reported.

"The slower expansion was in part due to sluggish growth in both market demand and supply," said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

The expansion — less than estimated — is a result of a contraction of the high-energy-consuming industries and of a sluggish growth in imports and exports, added Zhao.

The sub-index for production stood at 53.8 in April while the sub-index for new orders came in at 52.3, both down from the figures recorded in March.

Nevertheless, equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing continued with robust growth, with the sub-indices reaching 52.1 and 53.4 respectively, well above the 51.2 registered for all manufacturing industries in March.

Zhao also stated that consumer goods manufacturing rose to 52.2, "indicating an increasingly important role it plays in the economy".

Singer Justin Bieber is doing his own laundry while staying at a luxury hotel here.

According to a source, Bieber is staying at Montage Beverly Hills hotel here and hangs his briefs on a rack on the hotel balcony, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In some photographs, Bieber's briefs and T-shirts can be seen hung on the steel rack which he places in his hotel room balcony. 

Bieber is reportedly staying full-time at the luxury hotel after moving out of his plush property in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. 

"Bieber partied hard while at the Toluca Lake house and had a number of girls over after nights out, but the property is now back up for rent," the source said.

The source shared that Bieber is "sick of living in huge houses on his own".