The Centre has released an amount of Rs.19,000 crore out of the Rs.80,000 crore development package for Jammu and Kashmir announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This was disclosed at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Thursday, Home Ministry officials said.

Singh reviewed the progress in implementation of the mega package and works of various development initiatives announced for Jammu and Kashmir, which has been witnessing unrest lately.

It was conveyed in the meeting that 25 per cent of funds from the total package, around Rs.19,000 crore, has been released so far and related works were going on, an official said.

The meeting was attended by representatives from various central ministries and departments, and the state government.

The successful implementation of the mega package is key to assuage the feeling of alienation in Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed violence during the April 9 bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seats in which eight people lost their lives in more than 200 incidents.

There have been protests by students in the Valley last fortnight against alleged police excesses. Students, including girls, were seen pelting stones on security personnel in these incidents.

Massive protests erupted in Kashmir after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter in July last year which continued for nearly four months. More than 90 people lost their lives, while scores of security personnel and civilians were injured.

The Rs.80,000-crore package for Jammu and Kashmir was announced by the prime minister in November, 2015. So far, Rs.17,000 crore has been released to the state government by the Centre.

Around Rs.40,000 crore out of the Rs.80,000-crore package have been earmarked for improving road infrastructure, including semi-ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar, upgradation of important highways besides others.

An amount of Rs.7,854 crore has been earmarked for flood relief, reconstruction and flood management.

A total of Rs.2,241 crore is meant for promoting tourism by developing new projects and tourist circuits, and setting up of 50 tourist villages.

In addition, Rs.11,708 crore is for power, new and renewable energy. This includes augmentation of power infrastructure and distribution systems, solar power, and small hydro projects.

Rs.4,900 crore has been earmarked for improving healthcare facilities in the state which includes creation of two AIIMS-like institutions in both major cities of the state, and support for creation of infrastructure in hospitals and primary health centres.

Pro-Pakistan separatist leader Asiya Andrabi was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) from her residence in Srinagar late last night. She has been inciting the girls in the valley to pelt stones at the security forces, according to sources.

In a midnight swoop, a heavy contingent of police arrested her at her residence in Soura, in the outskirts of Srinagar.

Asiya, who is the founder of the Dukhtran-e-Millat (DeM), is known for spitting venom against India and holding pro-Pakistan rallies in the valley.

She is considered close to Hafiz Sayeed who while sitting in Pakistan was considered as engineer of terrorism in India. She addressed a rally of Hafiz telephonically in 2015 and spoke against India.

Her husband Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, who is also a militant leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen, is in jail for the past few years.

Asiya is considered one of the Kashmir based icons for the Pakistan-backed terrorists and has been issuing diktats to Kashmiri girls.

She was arrested in 2015 for waving Pakistani flag and slaughtering a cow of which the video went viral. 

A day after the AAP suffered a humiliating defeat in the MCD polls, the party is likely to appoint Labour Minister Gopal Rai as its new convener of the Delhi unit.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Delhi AAP MLAs called by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his official residence to review the civic bodies polls result.

However, the formal announcement will made after the meeting of party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), AAP highest decision making body.

On Wednesday, AAP's Delhi convener Dilip Pandey had resigned from the post, taking the responsibility of the party's drubbing in the municipal polls.

“Labour Minister Gopal Rai has been appointed as the new convener of Delhi AAP. The formal decision will announced after the PAC meeting,” an AAP functionary said.

In the meeting, Kejriwal also asked the MLAs to go back to people and introspect the reasons behind the poll debacle.

The newly-elected 48 councillors also met the chief minister at his residence.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, AAP legislator Vishesh Ravi said, “In the meeting, it was decided that MLAs will go back to people and try to find out where has been a communication gap between the legislators and them”.

Ravi, the MLA from Karol Bagh, said that in the meeting with Kejriwal, the EVM manipulation issue also came up for discussion.

“The AAP will soon decide its future course of action on this issue. At present, related evidence (pertaining to EVM manipulation) is being gathered,” Ravi said.

Another AAP MLA Nitin Tyagi said that in the meeting, it was discussed that MLAs should introspect on what went wrong in the MCD elections.

Asked about who will be the next party's Delhi convener, Tyagi also said Rai may be appointed to the post.

“We need to work at the ground level in our constituencies and also introspect on what went wrong in MCD polls. I think there has been a communication gap between MLAs and people. We could not convince the people about the good work done by the Delhi government.

“I think people also forgot how the BJP in the MCD had failed for the last 10 years,” Tyagi, the MLA from Laxmi Nagar, said.

Another AAP lawmaker, who did not wish to be named, said that Kejriwal has asked all party legislators to not be upset with the MCD poll results and go back to people.

The intermittent rains in Shimla since early morning on Thursday added to the chaos as most of the roads leading to The Mall and historic ridge, the venue for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally were closed due to security reasons.

However, this failed to dampen the spirits of party workers who converged in Shimla across the state to attend PM's rally.

The local residents were a harried lot as they didn’t knew which route to take to reach their destination. The roads leading to Mall Road from AG Office and Cart Road to The Ridge were closed for public as PM's cavalcade was to pass through these roads. It was for the first time that the entire Mall Road was barricaded to make way for the PM’s cavalcade.

Modi’s cavalcade was welcomed by party workers who showered flowers on his car as he passed through the Mall Road to reach rally venue at The Ridge.

The enthusiastic workers kept waiting for PM to arrive at the venue even through the rain while chanting patriotic slogans and ‘Modiji ka swagat hai’.

“We are here to welcome Modiji and rain won’t hinder us from attending the rally,” said Sanjay Sharma, a BJP supporter from Shimla.

Kushal Chauhan, a BJP worker from Nahan in Sirmaur district, said he had come to Shimla to attend the rally but the entire rally venue was full to the capacity. “Adding to the chaos and confusion, the Police didn’t guide the visitors which caused inconvenience to many,” he said, adding they should have told them that it’s already jam-packed.

The locals were a harried lot as most the routes they used to take daily to work were closed due to security reasons. Some even preferred to stay at home to avoid the inconvenience and rush while the schools in the vicinity of the rally were closed today.

The tourists who had came to Shimla to enjoy the serene beauty of the ‘Queen of Hills’ and were unaware of PM Modi’s visit, too seemed confused. “We had came to visit Shimla from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and wanted to visit Mall Road and The Ridge. But all roads leading to these places are jam-packed,” said Amit Mishra, who had came to Shimla with his newlywed wife and friends.

Even shops and eating joints on these routes were closed, causing inconvenience to the locals. Small vendors on the Mall Road were asked to close their shops since the last three days.

Gujarat Lions have given a lifeline to the struggling career of Irfan Pathan and team Chief Executive Arvinder Singh said he has high hopes on the 'veteran' all-rounder to deliver the goods in the IPL.

League stage toppers in their debut season last year, Gujarat Lions found their team balance go wrong this time after injury pull-out to West Indies all-rounder Dwyane Bravo and they made a surprise call by bringing in Irfan.

“Irfan is a quality all-rounder perfectly fitting into our scheme of things. He's not only popular but brings a lot to the table both in batting and bowling,” Singh told PTI in an interview on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Baroda all-rounder has donned jerseys for Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rising Pune Supergiant as Gujarat Lions became his sixth IPL franchise.

“You can call him a veteran as he has played for a number of years. He's been there, done that. He's looking fully fit and all geared up. That shows his commitment, I'm sure he will deliver for us,” he said about Pathan who has 80 wickets from 102 IPL games, apart from 1137 runs at a strike-rate of 120.57.

Irfan, who has a combined tally of more than 150 international caps for India in the three formats, failed last season in the IPL, scoring 11 runs in three innings and going wicketless from eight overs. He went unsold at the February auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh.

“Many also had written Ashish Nehra but see what he has done after the comeback. He's much older to Irfan but look at his performance, not only for his franchise but to the Indian cricket team,” Singh said.

Lions have not fared well so far this season but Singh said they were a case study in itself having topped the league in their inaugural season last year.

“Last year it was setting up a new franchise from scratch within two and half months. It certainly was a challenge. But looking at what we achieved it's a case study in itself. What more could you ask for from a brand new franchisee after finishing at top in a league where other teams had eight years' of experience behind them,” the Lions CEO said.

“We started off from zero but at the end of last IPL we were more than a million fans. At halfway stage this time, we have added another half a million. I don't think that has ever happened. Something must be right. That itself is a measure of how well the team has been received. The secret is very simple — it's about fan engagement.”

Singh also backed skipper Suresh Raina and hoped that his side would turn it around in the second phase this season.

“Raina is doing a fantastic job as captain. You have seen him leading from the front. It's just that in our bowling we struggled. That is hurting us a little bit so far. We are unlucky with Bravo declared unfit. Obviously these are guys who did very well for us last year,” he said.

Swedish automaker Volvo has announced at the 2017 Auto Shanghai that its first all-electric car will go on sale in 2019. Volvo has selected China as its global manufacturing base. For the uninitiated, Geely, the Chinese automaker, acquired Volvo from Ford in 2010, following which its resurrection started with the introduction of the second-gen XC90.

Though information about Volvo’s first electric car is slim, the Swedish automaker confirms that it will be based on its Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). This platform is also used by its two new Series 40 concepts – the 40.1 (XC40) and 40.2 (S40) – that it had showcased last year in May.

India Bound Volvo XC40 And S40 Concepts Revealed

Interestingly, the debutant vehicle of Geely’s new global brand, Lynk & Co, is also based on the same platform (CMA) and will have an all-electric powertrain option in near future. This Lynk & Co 01 SUV will go on sale this year. That explains why Volvo has chosen China as its first all-electric model’s production base. Further, Volvo highlights in an official release that ‘China is the world’s largest sales market for electrified cars.’

Volvo is committed to sell one million electrified cars by 2025. Volo has also confirmed that it is developing a similar all-electric vehicle on its bigger Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. This platform presently underpins its popular 90 series cars such as the XC90, S90 and the V90. Stay tuned to CarDekho for more updates on Volvo’s electrified future.

Source: CarDekho

When we speak of India's freedom struggle, millions of memories pour into our minds that rekindle our sense of patriotism and pride. One cannot forget the immense sacrifices, bloodshed and emotional and physical turmoil that our freedom fighters have gone through during the freedom struggle of our country. Speaking about freedom fighters, stories related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose continue to interest people even in today's time ever since he died under mysterious circumstance.

However, there are numerous untold and never-before-heard stories during the time of Netaji that have been penned down in a latest historical fiction, by Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose, titled The Wrong Turn ~ Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji.

The Wrong Turn is a story that traverses the cities of Calcutta, Singapore, Rangoon and Kohima, caught up in the blaze of World War-II. It is about the clash of four desperate forces as they come together in Kohima to vie for the brightest jewel in the crown ~ India. "Victory will come to those who possess not just the coldest steel but even colder hearts," said Sanjay during the launch of the book.

Sanjay Chopra is an airline pilot, author of two short story collections ~ Said and Done and Tailspin Stories. He is married to actress Tisca Chopra.

Set in the pre-Independence era, the novel is a sweeping tale of passion, love and betrayal. Debraj, the rakish playboy and scion of a distinguished Calcutta family, and Nishonko, the fiery revolutionary sworn to the cause of the Indian National Army (INA), must not only fight their common enemy, but also for the love of Aditi, the rebel with the healing touch. A haunting tale of love, friendship and betrayal of an entire nation, The Wrong Turn veers inexorably towards a poignant redemption.

The compelling narrative of the book keeps the reader gripped till the end and takes one all the way through the significant niceties of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, INA and their battles. It is set in 1944, in Kohima ~ a small, sleepy town in northeast India, when Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army (INA), along with the Japanese troops, tried to force the British out of India but inexplicably, the tables turn. They fail to succeed in their attempts.

However, 70 years later, the British admit that the Battle of Kohima was the greatest battle they had ever fought. Why was Netaji unsuccessful then? Was it then that old Indian curse ~ betrayal? Someone from within Netaji's own ranks? Were there forces other than the British, waiting in the shadows closer to home, who stood to gain even more from the INA's defeat? Or was it just love that irrevocably altered the course of India's destiny?

These questions are answered in the book with a riveting storyline that keeps the readers engrossed. Sharing insights about the book, co-author Namita, said, "This was a story waiting to be told. So much about Netaji was smoke and mirrors, partial views foisted on us by the British and other vested interests. Here was a man who was a personal hero, who was part of the lore of my childhood. And here was a chance to set the narrative straight – through the lens of a very human yet universal story of love."

The book, published by Om Books International, was launched by journalist Barkha Dutt at Zerruco-Kitchen and Bar in the Capital recently. The book is priced at Rs.295 and a must-read for fans of fiction.

The ‘Queen of Hills’ after almost five years got air connectivity with the launch of UDAN, the subsidised regional air connectivity scheme of the Central government.

The scheduled flights to Shimla airport had been shut since September 6, 2012 after Kingfisher flights got suspended which was affecting tourism industry in the state.

The launch of flights at Jubbarhatti airport around 22 kms from Shimla will enable flight to and fro Shimla from the national capital.

Air India subsidiary Alliance Air, which will operate the Delhi-Shimla flight, has put in a one-day fare of Rs 2,036.

The flights will operate five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday departing from Delhi at 6.10 a.m. and arrive in Shimla at 7.25 a.m., soon after which it will take-off for Delhi reaching at 8.45 p.m.

The state government had on numerous occasions chief minister Virbhadra Singh and Himachal Pradesh Tourisim Development Board Vice Chairman Vijay Singh Mankotia had taken up with the Central government as well as Airport Authority of India to make efforts to give priority to start flights to provide connectivity, not only to give boost tourism, but also other needy people of the state.

The airport had been constructed in 1887 after which regular flights were operated by different airlines that included Jagson Airlines, Air Deccan and Kingfisher. The state government had also widened the runway of the airport to meet the requirement of landing of ATR-72.

Kalpit Veerval, hailing from Udaipur in Rajasthan, has topped the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main with a perfect 100 per cent score.

The results of the exam conducted for admission to various engineering colleges, including the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), were declared by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) here today.

Kalpit, who has scored 360 out of 360 in the JEE-Main, had earlier topped the Indian Junior Science Olympiad and the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE).

Over 10.2 lakh students had appeared for the exam at 1,781 centres across the country.

The examination was held on April 2 (offline) and April 8 and 9 (online).

Candidates clearing the JEE-Main will be eligible to appear in the JEE-Advanced exam, 2017.

The JEE is conducted for admission to B.Tech, BE and B.Arch programmes offered at IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-approved engineering institutes.

Scientists have discovered an "extremely cold" new planet about the same mass as Earth, and the same distance from its host star as our planet is from our Sun.

The planet is likely far too cold to be habitable for life as we know it because its star is very faint, said the study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Bur the newly discovered planet, called OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb, may aid scientists in their quest to figure out the distribution of planets in our galaxy.

The planet was discovered through a technique called microlensing that facilitates the discovery of distant objects by using background stars as flashlights. 

"This 'iceball' planet is the lowest-mass planet ever found through microlensing," said lead author of the study Yossi Shvartzvald, a NASA postdoctoral fellow based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

The researchers believe that OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb is nearly 13,000 light years away and orbits a very small star — just 7.8 per cent of the mass of our Sun. 

It could be a brown dwarf, a star-like object whose core is not hot enough to generate energy through nuclear fusion. 

Alternatively, it could be an ultra-cool dwarf star much like TRAPPIST-1, which NASA's Spitzer space telescope and ground-based telescopes recently revealed to host seven Earth-size planets. 

Those seven planets all huddle closely around TRAPPIST-1, even closer than Mercury orbits our Sun, and they all have potential for liquid water. 

But OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb, at the sun-Earth distance from a very faint star, would be extremely cold — likely even colder than Pluto is in our own solar system, such that any surface water would be frozen, the researchers said.
 

The Syrian Army on Thursday said an Israeli missile targeted its military position near the international airport here.

Several missiles were fired by Israel targeted at positions near the airport and caused fire and several explosions that left damage, Xinhua news agency quoted the army as saying.

The attack was a desperate attempt to lift the morale of the terrorist groups, it said.

It's not the first Israeli strike as the Israelis have ramped up their airstrikes on military positions in Syria recently, targeting a military base in Qunaitera province and a military position near the ancient city of Palmyra last month.
 

Encouraged by its runaway success in the municipal corporation elections in Delhi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre is mulling replicating the MCD experiment in the upcoming state assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year and in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka next year.

This would mean the majority of sitting MLAs in these states would not get party tickets to contest the elections.

According to senior BJP leaders, this model has been under discussion among the top leaders of the party for some time and was implemented for the first time in the just held MCD elections.

Now, that the experiment succeeded, the leadership has to only firm up its mind for implementation elsewhere.

Party sources said report cards are already being prepared about the performance of MLAs in the poll-going states.

This exercise began under a well-crafted strategy soon after Amit Shah took over the reins of the party. Shah is credited with the view that the only way to beat anti-incumbency is to weed out non-performers. He is said to have the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is admitted in party circles now that all upcoming polls in the near future will be held under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In other words, there is little likelihood of anyone being projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

This may create intra-party tensions in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where party veterans Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh, respectively, are well entrenched as chief ministers. Their writ runs in these states.

Sources said the party leadership some time ago toyed with the idea of moving these leaders to the Centre to preclude any chances of friction on poll-eve.

This, however, did not materialise. First, there was an attempt to get Scindia into the union cabinet. She is, however, learnt to have resisted and the plan remained a non-starter.

However, the plan may be revived, according to party insiders, who said the central leadership is not too happy about Rajasthan.

Many BJP MLAs have been complaining about the CM’s “autocratic” ways of functioning, said Scindia is considering appointing a prominent foreign agency for an image-building exercise in the run up to the assembly elections.

If that happens, it will run counter to what the central leadership wants ~ pushing only brand Modi.

The leadership does not visualise any issue with the other two chief ministers, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh, both of whom are said to be in sync with the party’s line of thinking.

After winning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the recently held assembly elections, the BJP wants no let up of any kind in other states. It is conscious of the anti-incumbency factor in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh.

By bringing in new faces, the leadership feels the anti-incumbency factor will be somewhat contained. The Modi magic will take care of the rest, it is felt.

Denying tickets to large number of MLAs will have its own repercussions. Many sitting MLAs may turn rebels creating problems for official candidates.

These considerations are weighing in the leadership’s mind but it is willing to weather such “minor storms” if and when they come.

Party sources said MLAs in these states are aware of the leadership’s thinking and are careful about their conduct and performance.

They have little option, anyway. The BJP is already flooded with requests from middle- rung leaders of other parties who want to break rank and join the saffron surge.

Significantly, the fear of not getting party tickets is gripping the minds of many BJP MPs too even though the elections are two years away.

They know that without Modi they could not have made it to the Lok Sabha. They have been told in parliamentary party meetings clearly that the leadership is watching their performance closely.

No wonder, attendance by BJP MPs is excellent during the Parliament session and they avoid making statements on controversial issues.

In private, however, they make no secret of their annoyance and anger.

Cassini's first-ever dive through the narrow gap between the planet Saturn and its rings on April 26 was successful and the spacecraft is now in the process of beaming back science and engineering data collected during its passage, NASA said on Thursday.

NASA's Deep Space Network Goldstone Complex in California's Mojave Desert acquired Cassini's signal at 2:56 a.m. EDT on Thursday and data began flowing at 3:01 a.m. EDT, the US Space agency said.

"I am delighted to report that Cassini shot through the gap just as we planned and has come out the other side in excellent shape," said Cassini Project Manager Earl Maize of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. 

Images captured by Cassini spacecraft during its first "Grand Finale" dive past the planet have also been published. 

The unprocessed images show features in Saturn's atmosphere from closer than ever before. 

"In the grandest tradition of exploration, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has once again blazed a trail, showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare," Jim Green, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington said.

As it dived through the gap, Cassini came within about 3,000 kilometres of Saturn's cloud tops and within about 300 kilometres of the innermost visible edge of the rings.

While mission managers were confident Cassini would pass through the gap successfully, they took extra precautions with this first dive, as the region had never been explored.

The gap between the rings and the top of Saturn's atmosphere is about 2,000 kilometres wide. 

The best models for the region suggested that if there were ring particles in the area where Cassini crossed the ring plane, they would be tiny, on the scale of smoke particles. 

The spacecraft zipped through this region at speeds of about 124,000 kph relative to the planet, so small particles hitting a sensitive area could potentially have disabled the spacecraft.

As a protective measure, the spacecraft used its large, dish-shaped high-gain antenna as a shield, orienting it in the direction of oncoming ring particles.

Cassini's next dive through the gap is scheduled for May 2.

Launched in 1997, Cassini arrived at Saturn in 2004. 

Following its last close flyby of the large moon Titan on April 21, Cassini began what mission planners are calling its "Grand Finale."

During this final chapter, Cassini loops Saturn approximately once per week, making a total of 22 dives between the rings and the planet. 

The spacecraft is on a trajectory that will eventually plunge it into Saturn's atmosphere — and end Cassini's mission — on September 15.

Sports Minister Vijay Goel will be visiting Kochi onb Friday to take stock of the progress at the Jawaharlal Stadium, one of the six venues for hosting U-17 World Cup matches, and the training grounds.

The Local Organising Committee of FIFA U-17 World Cup had earlier this month asserted that Kochi was on its way to complete preparation work by May 15, rubbishing speculations that the venue could be dropped.

The visit was necessitated due to some complaints of delay in preparation for hosting this prestigious event. After Kochi, he (Goel) will visit the other five venues, where World Cup matches will be played, for on-the-spot assessment of preparation,” the sports ministry said in a statement.

It added, “During his visit, the minister will review the activities of SAI Centre at Kochi.”

FIFA's inspection team had last month expressed deep concern over the pace of work at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and set May 15 as deadline for completing work.

Drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may reduce prostate cancer risk by more than 50 per cent, show results of a study on 7,000 Italian men.

The findings were then validated in laboratory studies which suggested that the coffee substance caffeine might have some protective effect against cancer.

"The observations on cancer cells allow us to say that the beneficial effect observed among the 7,000 participants is most likely due to caffeine, rather than to the many other substances contained in coffee," said Maria Benedetta Donati from Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy.

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, sheds light in a field still hotly debated to this day — the role of coffee, and specifically caffeine, in relation to prostate cancer.

A protective effect of the popular drink has already been suggested by some recent studies.

"In recent years we have seen a number of international studies on this issue. But scientific evidence has been considered insufficient to draw conclusions. Moreover, in some cases results were contradictory," first author of the paper George Pounis from I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed said.

"Our goal, therefore, was to increase knowledge in this field and to provide a clearer view," Pounis said.

For the study, about 7,000 men were observed for four years on average. 

"By analysing their coffee consumption habits and comparing them with prostate cancer cases occurred over time, we saw a net reduction of risk, 53 per cent, in those who drank more than three cups a day," Pounis said.

Then the researchers sought confirmation by testing the action of coffee extracts on prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies. 

They tested, in particular, extracts containing caffeine or decaffeinated. Only the first ones significantly reduced cancer cells proliferation — an effect that largely disappeared with decaffeinated extracts.

The researchers believe that the Italian-style of coffee making might also contribute to the protective effect.

"We should keep in mind that the study is conducted on a central Italy population," Licia Iacoviello from I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed noted.

"They prepare coffee rigorously Italian way: high pressure, very high water temperature and with no filters. This method, different from those followed in other areas of the world, could lead to a higher concentration of bioactive substances. It will be very interesting, now, to explore this aspect," Iacoviello said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Som Dutt has been summoned as accused by a court here for allegedly giving false information in his affidavit filed before the Election Commission during the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra said prima facie it was clear that the parents of the MLA from Sadar Bazar constituency were dependent on him but he suppressed this information and failed to declare their assets in the details furnished to the returning officer.

The court summoned Dutt for the alleged offences of furnishing false information, giving false statement on oath or affirmation to public servant under the IPC and for filing a false affidavit under the Representation of the People Act.

The court directed him to appear before it on October 13.

Over a dozen MLAs of ruling Aam Aadmi Party have been booked in various cases since the Arvind Kejriwal government was formed in 2015. Among them are former law minister Jitendra Tomar who was arrested for allegedly having a fake degree, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, charged with intimidating a woman with rape and murder, and former minister Somnath Bharti who is facing a domestic violence case.

The court, in its order on Wednesday also summoned Dutt for the alleged offence of making false statement in the declaration which was receivable as evidence.

"Prima facie it is clear from the record that the parents of the applicant were dependent upon him but he suppressed this information in the details furnished to the returning officer and also failed to declare their movable and immovable assets.

"Accordingly, the ingredients of … (offences under IPC and Representation of the People Act) are prima facie attracted," the court said.

The court, however, said the offence of forgery is not made out in this case.

The court passed the order on a complaint filed by BJP leader Praveen Jain, who had contested the 2015 Assembly election from Sadar Bazar constituency here against Dutt.

Jain alleged that the AAP leader had filed a false affidavit before the Election Commission during the 2013 and 2015 assembly elections in which he declared that his parents were not dependent on him.

He said that Dutt was availing the benefits of Delhi Employees Health Welfare Scheme from Delhi Government and in the card, he declared his parents as his dependent members. It was alleged that Dutt intentionally suppressed the information and caused wrongful loss to the government exchequer.

Later, Dutt claimed reimbursement of the medical claims of his parents, it alleged.

The complainant sought his prosecution for the alleged offences of forgery and giving false information by way of sworn affidavit.

Making a foray into the Indian market, South Korean auto major Kia Motors on Thursday said it will set up a car manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of $1.1 billion.

The plant, Kia's first in India, will come up in Penugonda in Anantapur district and produce three lakh cars a year.

The work on the facility will start towards the end of 2017 and the production is expected to commence in the second half of 2019.

The company on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

"Kia plans to produce a strategic compact sedan and compact SUV especially for the Indian market at the new plant, which will occupy around 23 million square feet and incorporate facilities for stamping, welding, painting and assembly. The site will also be home to numerous supplier companies' facilities," said a company statement.

The state government has allotted 600 acres of land for the plant, which will provide direct employment to 10,000 people.

According to the Korean car market, India presents an opportunity for further sustained growth in the fifth largest new car market in the world.

"It will enable us to sell cars in the world's fifth largest market, while providing greater flexibility for our global business. Worldwide demand for Kia cars is growing and this is our latest step towards becoming a leading global car manufacturer," said Han-Woo Park, President of Kia Motors.

Kia plans to commence local sales of cars produced at the new facility towards the end of 2019, once mass production begins in Anantapur.

It said the region's fast-developing supply chain network and skilled labour force were other key reasons for the new investment.

The firm earlier scouted others states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana but preferred Andhra Pradesh.

The company said construction of a new manufacturing facility in India will enable it to maintain its position as one of the world's fastest-growing automobile brands.

With this the company will start selling its models in India, and benefit from further sustainable sales growth, locally and internationally.

India is the fastest growing major new car market and the fifth largest in the world, with more than 3.3 million new cars sold in 2016.

Forecasts suggest the country will become the third-largest car market by the end of 2020, it added.

Founded in 1944, Kia Motors is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles and manufactures over three million vehicles a year at 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries. The vehicles are sold in 180 countries.

Kia has over 51,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over $45 billion.