Actor David Schwimmer and his wife Zoe Buckman have announced that they want 'some time apart' following seven years of marriage.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Friends star and Buckman said they will spend a period of time trying to "determine the future" of their relationship, reports mirror.co.uk. 

The couple, who have been together for 10 years, said that during this time their family is still their main priority — stating their full attention will be on the happiness of their five-year-old daughter Cleo.

The joint statement read: "It is with great love, respect and friendship that we have decided to take some time apart while we determine the future of our relationship. 

"Our priority is, of course, our daughter's happiness and well being during this challenging time, and so we ask for your support and respect for our privacy as we continue to raise her together and navigate this new chapter for our family."

Buckman — a British artist and photographer — first met Schwimmer when he was working on romantic comedy Run (2007). 

She then relocated to Los Angeles with Schwimmer, and they tied the knot in 2010. In May 2011, the pair welcomed their only child Cleo.

The Haryana government would set up a Centralised Police Control Room, which would have a universal number-112 for fire brigade, ambulance service and police assistance.

The control room would be made functional from October 2, 2017. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas gave this information while interacting with mediapersons on Thursday.

He said that a sum of Rs.9.20 crore has been sanctioned by the Central Government for this project.

Replying to a question, Ram Niwas said that 10 new police stations were being opened in Gurugram.

The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given approval for recruitment of 500 traffic police personnel to deal with traffic situation in Gurugram. He said that notification would soon be issued to declare Hansi as police district.

Giving a relief to controversial Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, Air India on Friday lifted the flying ban on him after the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) wrote to the national carrier asking it to revoke the restriction with immediate effect.

The move comes hours after Air India cancelled yet another ticket Gaikwad had booked with the airline to fly to Delhi from Mumbai.

"In view of the apology tendered by Gaikwad and undertaking of good conduct given by him, AI and other airlines were advised by the MoCA to lift the ban," Air India said in a statement.

"In a letter dated April 6 addressed to Civil Aviation minister, Gaikwad has conveyed his regrets for the unfortunate incident," the statement said.

"Other private airlines are likely to follow Air India's decision and revoke ban on Gaikwad," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, the Air India Cabin Crew Association has said that Gaikwad must not be allowed to fly until he tenders an 'unconditional apology' for beating up a 60-year-old staffer.

In a letter to the AI Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani, the association has said that a decision by either the Ministry of Civil Aviation or Parliament to lift the ban will affect the morale of the employees.

On April 6, Gaikwad tendered apology in the Parliament, saying, "I apologise to the Parliament if I've caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official."

On Friday, Gaikwad, in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapthi Raju, had conveyed his regrets over the unfortunate incident.

The goon MP had on March 23 assaulted an Air India staffer for seat issues. Air India and four other airlines had banned Ravindra Gaikwad from their flights.

Mohammad Nabi, who is one of the two Afghan players competing in the ongoing IPL, says the league is a chance for him to show the world that his war-torn country has got talent.

“There are lot of expectations from me and Rashid (Khan, the other selected player) to perform in IPL. They (cricket fans back home) are waiting. Hopefully, we perform well. If I get a chance, I will try my best to perform,” he told reporters here.

Nabi, an all-rounder, and Rashid, a teenaged leg-spinner, were been acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the players' auction for the ongoing 10th edition of the cash-rich league.

“It's a big challenge for me and Rashid that we perform in IPL to show the world that we have talent,” Nabi said.

There is lot of enthusiasm among youth in Afghanistan for cricket though facilities are not up to the mark all over the country, Nabi said.

“India is building a cricket ground in Kandahar. MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are some of the Indian players who are popular in Afghanistan,” he said.

Cricket is played at different levels in Afghanistan, including school and club. Afghanistan recently defeated Ireland in both the Twenty20 and ODI series in India.

Actress Taapsee Pannu who delivered a commendable performance in Pink — which has won the Best Film on Social Issues at the 64th National Film Awards — says she always knew the movie's potential for recognition.

"I always believed this film has a potential to bag all possible recognitions on this planet and I'm happy the National Award jury validated my belief. A beautiful team effort that gets applauded. This film shall forever be etched in my memories," Taapsee said in a statement. 

The Amitabh Bachchan starrer, produced by Shoojit Sircar, raked up a discussion on crimes against women. 

"As an artist, it escalated me to greater heights and as a person it helped me strengthen my belief in my judgement," she added.

Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, the courtroom drama is a contemporary youth-centric film with a strong socially relevant message about the choices young women of today make and about respecting those. 

The film also stars Kirti Kulhari, Angad Bedi, Andrea Tariang, Piyush Mishra and Dhritiman Chatterjee. 

The Excise and Taxation Department has allotted all liquor vends in the state of Punjab for the year 2017-18.

The draw of lots for the remaining districts of Ludhiana, Patiala, Ferozepur and Faridkot divisions were held on 5 April.

The draw of lots in all the districts were held in a fair and transparent manner in the presence of the Deputy Commissioners or their representatives of the districts concerned and no complaint has been received in this regard.

The Excise policy for the year 2017-18 has been made trader-friendly and aims at safeguarding the interests of all the stakeholders, that is government, wholesalers, retails and the consumers.

The department expects to collect Rs.5,400 crore during the year 2017-18 from Excise, as against the expected collections of Rs.4,900 crore during the year 2016-17.

As promised in the election manifesto, the number of liquor vends has been reduced from 6,384 to 5,900 (approx.) in the Excise Policy for the year 2017- 18. This year, no liquor vend will be allowed to operate within a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of the National Highways and state highways, as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India.

The system of wholesale license L-1A has been abolished. The L-1 licensees will lift their quota directly from the manufacturing companies.

From the earlier departure, the L-1 license will be granted to a retail licensee (L-2 licensee) only in the concerned district who has secured atleast one group in a district.

This is a radical change from the earlier policy and has been done to meet the long pending demand of the retail licensees.

The quota of country liquor has been reduced from 10.10 crore proof litres to 8.70 crore proof litres that is by 14 per cent.

Similarly, the quota of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has been reduced from 4.73 Crore proof litres to 3.80 Crore proof litre, that is by 20 per cent.

The BJP and the Left-Congress members were engaged in a verbal duel in the Lok Sabha after a member of the saffron party raised the issue of the “CPI(M)-sponsored terror” in Kerala and sought the state government's dismissal.

During the Zero Hour, Poonam Mahajan raised the issue of a worker of the BJP's youth wing headed by her being “brutally attacked” by Left workers and alleged that several RSS and BJP workers have been killed by them.

Taking a dig, she said the Left parties should speak on the issue of intolerance only after they start practicing it in states ruled by them.

Mahajan asked the Speaker to lead a group of MPs to the southern state to assess the situation herself.
Her remarks agitated the Left members and also those of the Congress from the state as they targeted the RSS.

K C Venugopal (Congress) said the RSS was behind killings as well, including one last night in his constituency.

M B Rajesh (CPI-M) said the Hindutva outfit workers had recently killed a youth and a Muslim priest.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said he was unable to understand why Venugopal was critical of the BJP member's remarks as he himself had yesterday raised the issue of political violence in the state.

As Kumar said political murders were happening in Kerala and it was not acceptable, Rajesh accused him of misleading the House.

On Thursday, members of the Congress and the Left from Kerala had clashed in the House over an incident in Thiruvananthapuram where the police had ill-treated the parents of a student who had allegedly committed suicide.

Among other issues raised in the House during the Zero Hour, Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) expressed concern over the menace of stray cattle and said stray dogs recently killed a woman in her constituency.

He said people earlier used to cull stray dogs with “medicines”, a reference to poisonous substance used to kill them, but “our minister” has banned it. He was apparently referring to Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, a strong votary of animals rights.

It is a serious issue but the government is not taking it seriously, Chandumajra said.
Rajeev Satav (Congress) sought loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra and also in the rest of the country like Uttar Pradesh.

More farmers commit suicide in Maharashtra than any other state, he said seeking relief for them.

BJP on Friday denied any political motive behind the Income Tax searches at the premises of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, saying it was only an "administrative" action by the sleuths.

BJP State President Tamilisai Sounderrajan, responding to the AIADMK (Amma) faction's charge in this regard, said her party was against black money hoarders and corruption.

"There is nothing political about the searches. They are undertaken after proper monitoring and with proof. This is an administrative action," she told reporters.

"It is alleged that BJP (government at Centre) is behind these searches. BJP is only against black money hoarders and corruption," she added.

Earlier, the AIADMK (Amma) faction had alleged the IT searches at Vijayabaskar were being done with an intention to "intimidate" it, claiming its candidate for the April 12 RK Nagar bypoll, TTV Dhinakaran, was winning the election.

US President Donald Trump and his team discussed three options before zeroing in on a limited missile strike in Syria in response to a “heinous” chemical attack on civilians by President Bashar Assad's regime, his aides said on Friday

“There were three options we discussed with the president, and the president asked us to focus on two options in particular, to mature those options, and he had a series of questions for us that we endeavoured to answer,” US National Security Advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster told reporters during a hurriedly convened news conference.

“After a meeting of considerable length and a far-reaching discussion, Trump decided to act,” McMaster said giving the sequence of events.

He said the national security team weighed the risk associated with any military action.

“But we weighed that against the risk of inaction, which is the risk of this continued, egregious, inhumane attacks on innocent civilians with chemical weapons,” McMaster said at the news conference which was also addressed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

“It's important to recognise, as I think everyone does, the chaotic circumstances that exist on the ground in Syria with the presence of a battle underway to defeat ISIS, the presence of Al-Qaeda elements inside of Syria and a civil war that is underway,” he said.

“We feel that the strike itself was proportional because it was targeted at the facility that delivered this most recent chemical weapons attack,” he said.

According to McMaster, Trump was immediately notified after the chemical attack that killed 86 people, including 27 children.

“He was very interested in understanding better the circumstances of the attack and who was responsible,” he noted.

Tillerson said the US coordinated very carefully with its international partners in terms of communicating with them around the world.

“I would tell you that the response from our allies, as well as the region and the Middle East has been overwhelmingly supportive of the action we taken,” he said.

“There was a thorough examination of a wide range of options, and I think the President made the correct choice and made the correct decision. First, to be decisive in acting, acting against this heinous act on the part of Bashar Assad, but acting in a way that was clearly directed at the source of this particular attack to send that strong message,” Tillerson said in response to a question.

“Other things were considered. Those were rejected for any number of reasons. In my view, the President made the exact, correct decision,” said the Secretary of State, adding that the missile strike shows that Trump is willing to take decisive actions.

“This clearly indicates the president is willing to take decisive action when called for,” he said.

Southern films figured prominently at the 64th National Film Awards announced on Friday with Pellichoopulu, Puli Murugan, Joker and 24 bagging top honours.

The six industries of the south — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu and Konkani — bagged a total of 18 awards.

In Tamil filmdom, critically-acclaimed political satire Joker, actor Suriya-starrer science-fiction thriller "24" and "Dharmadurai" bagged a total of six awards.

Raju Murugan-directed "Joker" bagged Best Tamil Film and Best Playback Singer for Sundara Iyer.

"24" pocketed awards for Best Production Design for Amit Ray and Subratra Chakraborty, Best Cinematography for Tirru and Best Visual Effects.

Veteran lyricist Vairamuthu won his seventh National Award for the song "Endha pakkam" from Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Dharmadurai.

Telugu industry bagged a total of three awards.

Indie romantic-drama Pellichoopulu was awarded the Best Film in the language, while Shatamanam Bhavati bagged the Best Popular Film award for providing wholesome entertainment.

Raju Sundaram bagged the Best Choreographer award for NTR-starrer Janatha Garages.

Malayalam industry bagged five awards including Best Film for Mahesinte Prathikaram and Best Actress for Surabhi CM for her film Minnaminungu – The Firefly.

Adhish Praveen won Best Child Artist for "Kunju Daivam".

Peter Hein bagged an award for Best Stunt Choreography, introduced for the first time, for Puli Murugan.

Superstar Mohanlal won a Special Jury award for his performances in films such as AA Puli Murugan, Janatha Garage and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol.

While Kannada industry bagged two awards, Konkani and Tulu industries pocketed an award each.

Best Kannada Film award went to Reservation, while Bapu Padmanabha won the Best Music Director award for the film "Allama".

"Madipu" won the award for Best Tulu film and K Sera Sera- Ghodpachem Ghoddtelem was awarded the Best Konkani film.

Today, many things have lost their meaning. Be it relations, work, passion, leisure and so on. And it is becoming difficult for people to find contentment and peace in this stressfull fast-paced modern life.

Simple life has faded away. Most people are in a state of restlessness and depression that leads to several health issues.

People have lost the ability to appreciate simple things. In this hi-tech time, they are spending more time on the internet and modern gadgets. It can be detrimental to their physical and mental health and thier skills.

School life has also become more of a drudgery with lot of emphasis on academic achievements. The wild parties revolve around smoking, alcohol, sex and drugs. It’s ruining the society as a whole. There can be seen more racial segregation and mistrust in the world.

Modern life has lost innocence and real fun. Decency has slipped away. The game of wanting more ‘n’ more and complaining is being played everywhere. Despite all the luxurious conditions, it seems never ending. Very few can be seen interested in slow hobbies like reading, painting, gardening or cooking etc. There is more impatience and boredom even after spending lavishly.

The materialistic things do not determine the real and permanent happiness and peace. Embrace your life wisely as it comes. Be more aware of your surroundings. It helps in avoiding panic attacks and crippling anxieties. Achieve inner peace, contentment and true joy with following tips.

Plan each day and simplify your schedule. It will lead to less stress and more productivity. Adding little structure to your life, enable yourself to stay on the right track. Keep your mind focussed and look at the bigger picture that matters to your healthy life the most. Do one thing at one time. Split the massive jobs into smaller chunks. Avoid arguments and unrest and create a balanced life.

Practice meditation for few minutes every day. It is a simple process that takes just a little time with the potential to transform life. This source of creation will bring health, dynamism, peace and well-being to cope with the hectic pace of modern life.

Be creative. Develop a hobby that may give you self-efficacy. Discover a creative outlet that keeps your brain engaged. Look forward to something you are passionate about. You will have fun and unsullied happiness. It can be as simple as nurturing a plant, picking up a book, reacquainting yourself with your kitchen and many more. Think beyond earning all the time. Take out time to do work you love.

Avoid people and situations that trigger negativity. Take a break from them and decide later if you want to invite them back into your life. Toxic people are like bad investments. They steal your hopes and dreams you worked so hard for.

Express what’s inside you. Get a creative outlet through art, writing, painting, dance or music.

Stop stressing yourself by being a YES MAN. Trying to tackle everything that’s thrown at you is like swallowing a big elephant. Just learn to say NO.

Have a blast at weekends. Enjoy doing the things to have a great time and a lot of fun. It’s incredible.

Beware before you fall into great depression and suffering. Only you will have to pay the heavy price for your unwise lifestyle. It’s time to count blessings not the glooms.

Bye-bye depression!

The BJP on Friday demanded a CBI probe into the alleged AAP irregularities mentioned in the Shunglu Committee report that has accused the Delhi government of abuse of power and nepotism in making appointments.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told media persons here that the report showed how the Aam Aadmi Party government splurged public money on foreign tours and illegal appointments of unqualified people and relatives to top positions.

"All illegal appointments should be set aside by executive directions of the Lieutenant Governor. In case, the government fails to do so, the court will take action. In propriety of corrupt practices, the Central Bureau of Investigation can take action," Lekhi said.

Reacting to the AAP expressing doubt about timing of the report being made public ahead of the upcoming municipal elections here, Lekhi said: "We do not find anything doubtful. Rather their (AAP government) functioning is doubtful."

A three-member committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General VK Shunglu reviewed 404 files of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's government to allege there were irregularities with various appointments and other decisions.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said it will not interfere in the Uttarakhand government's move making singing of the national anthem and song compulsory in the state universities.

"That is the state government's decision and the state is bound by its decision. How does BJP interfere in the government functioning? We know the difference between the party and the government. I (party) have no authority," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told media persons here.

Uttarakhand's Minister of State for Higher Education Dhan Singh Rawat, during a function at a collage in Roorkee, said that if students want to live in the state, they will have to sing National Anthem in the morning and national song in the evening.

Rawat had earlier made hoisting of national flag mandatory in the universities across the state.

Haryana chief minister (CM), Manohar Lal Khattar announced that trauma centres would be set up on highways after a distance of every 60 kilometers so as to provide immediate medical aid to the victims of road accidents. Besides, he also announced that Super Specialty Poly Clinics would be set up in all districts to provide better preventive and curative health care to live stock in the state.

CM was presiding over a meeting to review announcements of Panipat and Yamunanagar districts on Thursday. Apart from MLAs of all assembly constituencies of two districts, Chairman of District Grievance Committees and Deputy Commissioner concerned were also present in the meeting. He reviewed announcements of all four assembly constituencies of district Panipat namely Panipat Rural, Panipat City, Israna and Samalkha and four assembly constituencies falling in district Yamunanagar namely Sadhaura, Jagadhari, Yamunanagar and Radaur.

CM further said that Haryana would be the first state to have trauma centres after a distance of every 60 kms on highways. At present seven trauma center were functioning in the state and 12 new such centers were proposed to be set up. He directed the concerned officers to provide list of these 19 trauma centres so that work on the remaining centres should be started at the earliest.

CM asked the Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLA) of two districts to coordinate with the respective Deputy Commissioners to expedite the work on CM announcements in their districts. He also asked them to get the availability of land and feasibility of the project checked before requesting him to make announcements. He said that during the first two-and-a-half years of ten year rule of previous Congress government in the state, 2,300 announcements were made whereas, we have made 3,550 announcements concerning various development works up to December 31, 2016. He said that the previous government had made about 6,500 announcements during their ten year tenure but we would be able to cross this figure in just five years.

While reviewing CM announcement of the two districts, the Chief Minister directed the officers of Public Health Engineering Department to make adequate availability of clean drinking water to the people including to those residing in unauthorized colonies. He directed the concerned officers that CM announcements concerning swacchta (cleanliness), sewerage and drinking water be expeditiously implemented as these are the priority areas of the state government.

Among those other present in the meeting included Haryana Transport and Housing Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries namely Bakshish Singh Virk and Shyam Singh Rana, MLAs of all assembly segments of district Panipat and Yamunangar and Administrative Secretaries of various departments.

Team India and Rising Pune Supergiant’s star wicketkeeper MS Dhoni has been booked for breaching the IPL code of conduct during their match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday.

“During the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium yesterday evening, M.S. Dhoni from Rising Pune Supergiant was reprimanded by the Match Referee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday.

According to the Indian board, Dhoni has admitted the Level 1 offence (Article 2.1.1) for conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.

The Article 2.1.1 is related to IPL clothing rules and regulates everything from a commercial logo to a player’s bat or any other accessory carried by the cricketer on field.

RPS beat MI by seven wickets in the second match of the fresh season. 

Besides match-winner Steve Smith, who scored 84 (not out) to propel RPS to the victory, Dhoni was unbeaten for 12 runs in the end.

Actor Justin Theroux says he loves being married to actress Jennifer Aniston because she always backs him.

"Marriage makes the small things much smaller and the big things small," unitedmags.com quoted Theroux as saying. 

He added: "You have an ally. It's good to have someone have your back."

The actor got married to Aniston in August 2015.

For Theroux, getting in in front of the camera was an adventure. 

He said: "It was an interesting thing, realising (that acting) is not a completely personal, therapeutic journey – it's something you actually have to translate to someone else… Like someone saying, ‘I have a great book in my head, you should read it'.

"So that was a big light-bulb moment for me: It's not about me. It's about servicing the playwright and servicing the director and really just trying to take the hard work they've done and be the copper cable between the audience and them."

Meanwhile, Theroux is busy with the promotional activity for the third and final season of his acclaimed drama "The Leftovers". 

The final season of The Leftovers, which also stars Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston and Liv Tyler, will air in India from April 18 on Star World Premiere HD.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday began his winding road journey to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh — the high point of his visit that has angered China.

The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on April 4. But bad weather forced him to take to the road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh in Assam.

Nestled among the snow-covered mountains and perched at a height of 10,000 feet, Tawang is home to Monpa people who practice Tibetan Buddhism. The town is all set to welcome the Dalai Lama.

Tawang has been decorated with colourful prayer flags, besides Indian and Tibetan flags and flowers. The roads have been repainted and the drains cleared.

The Nobel peace laureate will stay at Tawang monastery, the largest in India and second only to the world's largest – the Potala Palace in Tibet.

The 81-year-old Dalai Lama's journey to Tawang will take him over the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. He is likely to touch Tawang after noon.

"Hundreds of people are holding traditional ceremonial scarves and burning incense all along the road to see the Dalai Lama and receive his blessings," a government official told IANS

Security forces kept a vigil, particularly at Sela Pass, which is wet because of melting snow, muddy and slippery.

"All necessary security arrangements have been taken," Arunachal Pradesh police chief Sandeep Goel told IANS.

The Dalai Lama first arrived in Bomdila, the district headquarters of West Kameng in Arunachal, and delivered his religious discourses and interacted with people.

From there, he drove to Dirang valley, about 50 km from Tawang where he consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery on Thursday.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu is accompanying the Tibetan leader.

The Tawang monastery belongs to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism and had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. 

Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950.

The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959.

Thousands of people as far as from Ladakh and neighbouring Bhutan have descended at Tawang for a glimpse of the Dalai Lama.

"We have been preparing for the last two months. Everybody wants to see him, talk to him and get his blessings. The Dalai Lama is our revered leader," said the monastery Secretary, Lobsang Khum.

This will be the Dalai Lama's first visit to Arunachal after eight years. 

His first visit to this mountainous state was in 1983 and the last trip was in 2009, which coincided with his 50 years since he crossed through Arunachal Pradesh.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India in self-imposed exile since 1959. India is also home to some 100,000 Tibetan exiles.