Role of the media once again came under scrutiny in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday with members from across parties criticising it for not reporting positive aspect of parliamentary proceedings.

The issue was raised by Naresh Agrawal of the Samajwadi Party (SP) soon after the house met for the day's business.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) Sharad Yadavji had talked about media being Fourth Pillar of democracy and its role but nothing was reported about it," he said.

Agrawal was then supported by Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), who said that "whatever I had said was buried in the four walls of the house".

Anand Sharma of the Congress also expressed concern over the issue and said that the media must play a role in sensitising public on issues of national importance.

"No constructive work of the house finds a place in the media," he alleged.

To pacify the members, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said that the issue could only be discussed in the house under proper motion.

He also gave examples how unusual stuff finds place in newspapers, saying "if a dog bites a man it's no news, but if a man bites the dog it's a news".

"Media is the Fourth Pillar of Indian Democracy and honest reporting is required for the sake of it," Kurien said.

On Wednesday, Sharad Yadav said media organisations in the country were in the clutches of businessmen and "journalists are not free to report the truth".

"The journalists cannot write the way they want to, and are being directed by their financiers," he said, adding that this trend is badly affecting democracy in India.

The JD(U) leader said businessmen have got hold of the Indian media to further their agenda and interests. "It should be checked and stopped."
 

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has praised the forthcoming film Phillauri and has asked actors Anushka Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh "to keep believing in the impossible".

Shah Rukh on Wednesday night took to Twitter to praise the cast, crew and the film. 

"Phillauri the attempt at doing what you believe in. Anushka Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh, Anshai (Director Anshai Lal), Karnesh (producer Karnesh Sharma) keep believing in the impossible," Shah Rukh tweeted

Phillauri, a romantic comedy film, directed by Lal is co-produced by Anushka and Karnesh Sharma under the banner of Fox Star Studios and Clean Slate Films. 

Shah Rukh is currently busy shooting for director Imtiaz Ali's tentatively titled The Ring. The film also stars Anushka. 

This film will mark the third collaboration between Shah Rukh and Anushka after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012).

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has praised the forthcoming film Phillauri and has asked actors Anushka Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh "to keep believing in the impossible".

Shah Rukh on Wednesday night took to Twitter to praise the cast, crew and the film. 

"Phillauri the attempt at doing what you believe in. Anushka Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh, Anshai (Director Anshai Lal), Karnesh (producer Karnesh Sharma) keep believing in the impossible," Shah Rukh tweeted

Phillauri, a romantic comedy film, directed by Lal is co-produced by Anushka and Karnesh Sharma under the banner of Fox Star Studios and Clean Slate Films. 

Shah Rukh is currently busy shooting for director Imtiaz Ali's tentatively titled The Ring. The film also stars Anushka. 

This film will mark the third collaboration between Shah Rukh and Anushka after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012).

Ryan Gosling, who has achieved superstar status after his role as a passionate jazz musician in La La Land, says Twitter takes away the fear of reaching out to people but not the consequence of it.

Gosling was a star attraction here at the Adobe annual summit on Wednesday, and was greeted with whistles and screams from some 12,000 people gathered there. Clearly, the tech world has its shares of movie fans and fawning youngsters.

The actor, singer, dancer and director said he was aware that he was writing to two million fans when he tweets, but said that he took to the social media app only after someone impersonated him and sent out tweets under his false handle.

Adobe Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Ann Lewnes expressed doubt over whether the actor sent out the tweets. "I have read your stuff and it doesn't sound like you," she said.

But Gosling, who said he was "relieved" not to have got the Oscar, said: "I do tweet myself to the dismay of my father." He was presented on stage by Adobe on Day two of the summit, which largely dealt with tech innovation.

He said he was thrilled that Moonlight won the Best Picture Oscar rather than La La Land which was widely expected.

"It's such a groundbreaking film made for a million dollars, and I am so happy for them that they were being recognised."

Gosling said he broke into giggles because he thought people had started panicking and that someone had got injured in the theatre. When he realised that it was a reaction to Moonlight, he was relieved and broke into laughter.

The 36-year-old, a Canadian, joked that he had come to the Summit to learn how to use Photoshop from experts, but all he was getting were questions on his career and films.

To the dismay of Adobe officials, he said he had learnt Final Cut — an Adobe Photshop rival by Apple — to edit one of the movies that he had directed. Lewis snarkily remarked that a more "professional" product would have made his life easier and that in future he should go for an Adobe product.

Gosling also spoke of movies never going out of fashion, despite advances in technology. 

"We are still watching The Wizard of Oz," he said, adding that "now we are watching it on a handheld device".

What's changed though, he said, was the people were watching movies at home so that "they could spend more time with the characters."

He also mentioned that perhaps movies could be made in shorter chunks, but in a series so that people could watch them more.

"A film is like a one-night stand while a series is a relationship," he said, adding that most people want a relationship.

Adobe had brought in other stars from other fields too, like retired NFL player Peyton Manning and magicians Penn and Taylor who have their own TV show, but it was Gosling who stole the show and got repeated applause and laughter.

Ryan Gosling, who has achieved superstar status after his role as a passionate jazz musician in La La Land, says Twitter takes away the fear of reaching out to people but not the consequence of it.

Gosling was a star attraction here at the Adobe annual summit on Wednesday, and was greeted with whistles and screams from some 12,000 people gathered there. Clearly, the tech world has its shares of movie fans and fawning youngsters.

The actor, singer, dancer and director said he was aware that he was writing to two million fans when he tweets, but said that he took to the social media app only after someone impersonated him and sent out tweets under his false handle.

Adobe Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Ann Lewnes expressed doubt over whether the actor sent out the tweets. "I have read your stuff and it doesn't sound like you," she said.

But Gosling, who said he was "relieved" not to have got the Oscar, said: "I do tweet myself to the dismay of my father." He was presented on stage by Adobe on Day two of the summit, which largely dealt with tech innovation.

He said he was thrilled that Moonlight won the Best Picture Oscar rather than La La Land which was widely expected.

"It's such a groundbreaking film made for a million dollars, and I am so happy for them that they were being recognised."

Gosling said he broke into giggles because he thought people had started panicking and that someone had got injured in the theatre. When he realised that it was a reaction to Moonlight, he was relieved and broke into laughter.

The 36-year-old, a Canadian, joked that he had come to the Summit to learn how to use Photoshop from experts, but all he was getting were questions on his career and films.

To the dismay of Adobe officials, he said he had learnt Final Cut — an Adobe Photshop rival by Apple — to edit one of the movies that he had directed. Lewis snarkily remarked that a more "professional" product would have made his life easier and that in future he should go for an Adobe product.

Gosling also spoke of movies never going out of fashion, despite advances in technology. 

"We are still watching The Wizard of Oz," he said, adding that "now we are watching it on a handheld device".

What's changed though, he said, was the people were watching movies at home so that "they could spend more time with the characters."

He also mentioned that perhaps movies could be made in shorter chunks, but in a series so that people could watch them more.

"A film is like a one-night stand while a series is a relationship," he said, adding that most people want a relationship.

Adobe had brought in other stars from other fields too, like retired NFL player Peyton Manning and magicians Penn and Taylor who have their own TV show, but it was Gosling who stole the show and got repeated applause and laughter.

Global box office revenue hit a record $38.6 billion in 2016, according to a report released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The report on Wednesday said the results mark a 1 per cent rise from last year's record-breaking $38.4 billion, representing a slowdown compared to the growth of more than 5 per cent in 2014-2015.

"The continued strength of the box office demonstrates that cinema remains the premier way to experience great storytelling for audiences around the world," Chris Dodd, chairman and CEO of the MPAA, said in a statement.

Revenue in the US and Canada in 2016 stood at $11.4 billion, a 2 per cent increase from 2015, when it reached $11.1 billion.

Revenues in the rest of the world fell slightly from $27.3 billion in 2015 to $27.2 billion in 2016.

This drop was influenced by the 1 per cent decline of revenue in China after a decade of consecutive growth.

But despite this China continued to be the country with the highest ticket sales revenue in 2016 outside the US-Canadian market, with $6.6 billion dollars.

Next on the list were Japan, with $2 billion; India, with $1.9 billion; the UK, with $1.7 billion; and France, with $1.6 billion. 

Global box office revenue hit a record $38.6 billion in 2016, according to a report released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The report on Wednesday said the results mark a 1 per cent rise from last year's record-breaking $38.4 billion, representing a slowdown compared to the growth of more than 5 per cent in 2014-2015.

"The continued strength of the box office demonstrates that cinema remains the premier way to experience great storytelling for audiences around the world," Chris Dodd, chairman and CEO of the MPAA, said in a statement.

Revenue in the US and Canada in 2016 stood at $11.4 billion, a 2 per cent increase from 2015, when it reached $11.1 billion.

Revenues in the rest of the world fell slightly from $27.3 billion in 2015 to $27.2 billion in 2016.

This drop was influenced by the 1 per cent decline of revenue in China after a decade of consecutive growth.

But despite this China continued to be the country with the highest ticket sales revenue in 2016 outside the US-Canadian market, with $6.6 billion dollars.

Next on the list were Japan, with $2 billion; India, with $1.9 billion; the UK, with $1.7 billion; and France, with $1.6 billion. 

The Rupee strengthened by three paise to 65.42 per US Dollar in the afternoon trade on Thursday on some selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

Stock markets trading with gains also boosted the domestic currency, dealers said.

The Rupee had lost 14 paise to close at 65.44 per Dollar on fresh Dollar demand from importers.

In global trade, the US Dollar had strengthened against major world currencies with the Dollar index inching up by 0.08 per cent against a basket of currencies on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered 147.50 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 29,315.18 points in early trade on Thursday.

(With inputs from PTI)

The Rupee strengthened by three paise to 65.42 per US Dollar in the afternoon trade on Thursday on some selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

Stock markets trading with gains also boosted the domestic currency, dealers said.

The Rupee had lost 14 paise to close at 65.44 per Dollar on fresh Dollar demand from importers.

In global trade, the US Dollar had strengthened against major world currencies with the Dollar index inching up by 0.08 per cent against a basket of currencies on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered 147.50 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 29,315.18 points in early trade on Thursday.

(With inputs from PTI)

In a latest development to the Maharashtra resident doctors' strike, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the agitating doctors to resume duties and urged them give some time to the government to provide them proper security.

The court asked the state government to provide security to doctors at the government hospitals so they can work without any fear. The HC will hear matter after 15 days.

Bombay HC chief justice said in the order that no punitive action should be taken against protesting doctors once they resume their duties.

Earlier, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) had filed an affidavit in the court saying they're ready to join duty but want safety from government and administration.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday requested the agitating doctors to withdraw their strike immediately.

The court could not hear the matter on junior doctors' mass leave on Wednesday because of unavailability of the CJ's bench.

Earlier the court had ine one of the hearing said that the protests might result in contempt of court as the doctors' association had in 2016 given an undertaking that it would not go on strike.

For the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, over 3,000 resident doctors continued their mass casual leave protesting against growing incidents of attacks by patients' relatives on them.

Medical services in 17 government hospitals in Maharashtra, including four in Mumbai, were severely affected because of the strike.

Thousands of patients have been deprived of medical care in the wake of the protest across the state.

The Competition Commission on Wednesday approved acquisition of nearly 15 per cent stake in foreign exchange services provider Centrum Direct by NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Holdings IV and Jacob Ballas Capital India.

In a tweet, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved "acquisition of 14.89 per cent shareholding in Centrum Direct Ltd by NYLIM Jacob Ballas and Jacob Ballas Capital India Pvt Ltd".

As per the notice submitted to the regulator, the combination is being undertaken by way of an investment agreement executed on January 31. The pact was between Holdings IV, Jacob Ballas, Centrum Retail Services Ltd, Centrum Capital and Centrum Direct.

NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Holdings IV and Jacob Ballas Capital India "propose to jointly acquire a certain minority percentage of shareholding in Centrum", according to the notice.

Owned by New York Life Insurance Company (NYLIM), Holdings IV is a Mauritius-based investment holding company that focuses on long-term capital appreciation primarily through equity or related investments in companies that are based in or have significant operations in India.

Jacob Ballas is an investment advisory firm in which NYLIC has minority shareholding.

Centrum is wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrum Retail and offers foreign exchange services in India through its network of 78 branches in 50 cities and at 18 airports.

New Zealand's central bank held its official cash rate (OCR) at a historic low of 1.75 per cent on Thursday, citing major challenges in the global economy.

Macroeconomic indicators in advanced economies have been positive over the past two months, but major challenges remained with ongoing surplus capacity in the global economy and extensive geo-political uncertainty, said Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Graeme Wheeler.

Global headline inflation had increased, partly due to a rise in commodity prices, and monetary policy was expected to remain stimulatory, but less so going forward, particularly in the US, Xinhua news agency quoted Wheeler as saying.

The trade-weighted exchange rate has fallen 4 percent since February, partly in response to weaker dairy prices and reduced interest rate differentials, but further depreciation was needed to achieve more balanced growth.

Prices in the country's dairy sector had been volatile in recent auctions and uncertainty remained around future outcomes.

Monetary policy would remain accommodative for a considerable period.

"Numerous uncertainties remain, particularly in respect of the international outlook, and policy may need to adjust accordingly," he said.

The OCR has been at 1.75 per cent since last November.

The RBNZ's next OCR review will be held on May 11.

 Facebook users can now go live directly from their desktops using their webcams and also broadcast gameplay from their computers.

According to a Facebook blog post on Wednesday, Facebook live on desktops was earlier available for pages only, but now the status update composer will feature a Live button also.

Facebook also added a new feature that makes it easy to use streaming software or external hardware when going live from a computer. 

"With this update, people can seamlessly share their screens, insert graphics, switch cameras, or use professional equipment in Facebook Live videos," the social media giant said.

With this update, it is easier to stream your PC gameplay to friends and followers and engage with them while you play.

"Opening up on desktop takes Facebook Live beyond Twitter and Periscope's options, and brings it into competition with longer-running services like YouTube," TechCrunch reported.

The report quoted Facebook as saying that the desktop streaming could be useful for activities like Q&As and vlogging where holding phone in hand could be inconvenient. 

"While the content on Live might not be great yet, and there's been some troubling broadcasts of violence that Facebook promises it's working to prevent, it's still early for the medium," the report added.

Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Union government may table four Goods and Services Tax (GST) related bills in the Parliament on Thursday.

The GST related bills were cleared by the Cabinet on Monday.

“Government may table GST bills in Parliament today (Thursday),” Meghwal said.

The four bills are: the Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 and the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to the States) Bill 2017.

In order to implement the GST from July 1, the government is planning to complete the legislative work in the ongoing budget session of Parliament.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday had said the GST Council has cleared all the major hurdles for the GST Bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cautioned BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh to refrain from pressurising state officials and also asked them to focus on development of their region, sources said.

Modi's remarks came during his meeting with parliamentarians from the state at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg here.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah also attended the meeting.

"Prime Minister suggested us to refrain from transfer and posting of officials. This causes unnecessary pressure on state government," a BJP pariamentarian who was present in the meeting said.

The BJP leader said that the Prime Minister also asked the MPs to focus on development of their region.

"The mandate is for development. We have to focus on development only. Good governance is mantra of development," the BJP leader quoted Modi as saying.

The BJP won 312 seats in the just concluded elections to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. The party has promised all round development in the state.
 

Extreme weather and climate conditions, including Arctic “heatwaves”, have continued into 2017, after global temperatures set record last year and the world witnessed exceptionally low sea ice and unabated ocean heat, the UN weather agency said.

While global temperatures hit a remarkable 1.1 degree- Celsius above the pre-industrial period, global sea-level touch record highs and the planet's sea-ice coverage dropped more than four million square kilometres below average in November an unprecedented anomaly for that month, according to the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) statement on the state of the Global Climate in 2016.

“This increase in global temperature is consistent with other changes occurring in the climate system,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said.

“With levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere consistently breaking new records, the influence of human activities on the climate system has become more and more evident,” Taalas said.

Each of the year since 2001 has seen at least 0.4 degree-Celsius above the long-term average for the 1961-1990 base period, used by the UN agency as a reference for climate change monitoring.

The 2016 heating was further boosted by the powerful El Nio weather system, during which global sea-level also rose very strongly.

Similarly, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere reached the symbolic benchmark of 400 parts per millions in 2015 the latest year for which WMO global figures are available and will not fall below that level for many generations to come because of the long-lasting nature of CO2.

“The extreme weather patterns are continuing in 2017 adding that at least three times so far this winter, the Arctic saw what can be called the Polar equivalent of a heatwave, with powerful Atlantic storms driving an influx of warm, moist air,” WMO said.

“This meant that at the height of the Arctic winter and the sea ice refreezing period, there were days which were actually close to melting point,” it said.

In the US alone, 11,743 warm temperature records were broken or tied in February, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the UN agency.

“Even without a strong El Nio in 2017, we are seeing other remarkable changes across the planet that are challenging the limits of our understanding of the climate system,” said World Climate Research Programme Director David Carlson.

“We are now in truly uncharted territory,” Carlson added

Putting an end to the dispute over party symbol in the AIADMK faction, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday allotted new party names and symbols.

The group headed by former chief minister O Panneerselvam got the party name as AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma with an electricity pole as symbol, while the other group in the party, headed by VK Sasikala, got the party name as AIADMK Amma with a hat symbol.

Reports suggested that the EC on Thursday night issued an interim order freezing the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK, saying both the rival camps cannot use the party symbol as well as its name ahead of the RK Nagar assembly bypoll.

The RK Nagar bypoll was necessitated following the demise of J Jayalalitha.