Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar, who is popular for urban boy roles in movies, such as Dil Dhadakne Do, Rock On, and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, has metamorphosed himself in a complete new transformation of a Bhojpuri actor for his role in upcoming film Lucknow Central.

Farhan would be the first actor from the Bollywood to play role of a Bhojpuri actor ever on the silver screen, as the Rock On actor always has been a big fan of Bhojpuri actor Majoj Tiwari's films.

Known for his new experiments in movies, Farhan is having his meal at Jail set in Film City these days, to get the feeling of his character Bhojpuri prisoner.

Lucknow Central, which is produced by Nikkhil Advani's Emmay Entertainment and directed by Ranjt Tiwari is scheduled to release on September 15 2017.
 

Winters are over. Put back your woolens. It’s time to update your wardrobe, but don't dig out your old summer wears yet. Instead, redo your wardrobe with international fashion brands –  Burberry, Charlie Brear, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Kenzo, Emporio Armani,… the list is endless. Be set to embrace the most fashionable wears this summer and step up in style everyday.

The 80’s trends or early red carpet appearances is back. Short minis, neon spandex, metallic disco leggings and the single shoulder dress are creating a sensation on the ramps. Gucci, Kenzo and many more hi-fi brands are out with the latest.

Easy fittings with muted shades are the latest fashion choices for work wears. The full on statement stripes can be seen everywhere at fashion shows. Barbara Bui, Chole and Nina Ricci have a great collection to pick from.

The sporty, yet cool look is totally show stopping these days. The hooded tops with leggings or even cycling shorts with crystal embellishment look glamorous and are a hot picks among youngsters. Christian Dior and Versace are the good options to shop.

Full-on floral is in huge demand for that chic, yet casual look. Floral dresses bring in the young vibes and fresh summery look.

Pretty sheer gown with cut away hem, high heels and a bejewelled clutch, it has become more red carpet savvy this year. Perfect for luxurious parties and a complete formal attire to adorn you in a lavish style.

Over-sized shirts with denims or leggings are a key trend for summer 2017. They give you the simple yet chic and youthful look. Gucci and Acne have great collections.

The cute off-the–shoulder trend is still a hit with few add on this year. Over-sized sleeves and all the ruffles look very girly. You can find a good collection in brands like Joseph and Rag and Bone.

Talking about the colours in fashion, spalsh and clash are the palate of today’s fashionistas. Though the list is endless, bright green, red, blue, purple, yellow, orange and pink are among the choices for flaunting new fashion credentials.

This summer, know the trends and wear to inspire with the lastest in fashion. What are you waiting for? Another bright day- another fashionable wear worthy of a red carpet – another full on party.

When Baahubali came on screen, he left the viewers awestruck and also lingering on an unanswered question that why Kattapa killed Baahubali?

As the trailer of Baahubali : The Conclusion 's trailer is all set to hit the masses on March 16, 2017, the question remains if the craftsman SS Rajamouli will have the trailer showcasing hidden hints to the mystery surrounding Baahubali' s death.

The only question having paramount importance since 2015, is still unanswered and with the trailer coming, viewers expect some hints.

The film is expected to present the rise of Baahubali and his untimely death at the hands of the loyal Kattapa.

The film is a window into the journey of Baahubali and would make for an interesting watch if the makers have hidden cues in the trailer.

The audiences have seen motion posters and teaser posters to the film, as a countdown to the trailer launch.

The trailer to the concluding installment of the Baahubali franchise might prove to be a glimpse of unfolding of the mystery of 'Why Kattapa killed Baahubali'.

Directed by S.S Rajamouli, the movie stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anushka Shetty and Satyaraj. The film is slated to release on April 28, 2017.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Wednesday said the Rs.1000 crore Nirbhaya Fund to address issues of women’s safety and security was “severely underutilised,” and was being used for miscellaneous expenditure in the absence of proper schemes.

In its report on the Ministry’s budgetary demands for 2017-18, the Committee said the surprising situation existed when the Ministry admitted to the Committee that women’s safety, along with increasing cyber-crime, were the new challenges before the country.

The government informed the Committee, headed by former Home Minister P Chidambaram, that it was assisting state governments in setting up investigative units for crime against women, utilising the Nirbhaya Fund. The Fund is financing a Central sector scheme “Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) with an outlay of Rs
195.83 crores for the next three years.

The Parliamentary Committee has expressed concern that excluding the transfers to Union Territories, the Home Ministry’s budgetary allocation for 2017-18 was Rs 84553.30 crores against the Ministry’s demand for Rs 108270.13 crores. The “shortfall” in the allocation was almost 22 per cent. The nominal increase in the allocation from the
last year’s revised provision of Rs 79460 crores “may not be even sufficient to offset the impact” of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and inflationary pressures, the Committee said.

What worried the Committee more seriously was the gross under-utilisation of funds for Plan schemes for the Ministry
throughout the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). Almost every year, important divisions of the Ministry including Border Management, Disaster Management, the two Police divisions and one on Internal Security had surrendered huge amounts of funds by the year-end.

“In some cases the surrendered funds were to the tune of 50 per centand above which is a clear indication of incoherent planning, lack of conviction and inefficient functioning of the Divisions.”

Some of theMinistry divisions, the Committee said, were unable to utilise their funds even after substantial cuts by the Finance Ministry at the revised estimates (RE) stage.

This could have “direct ramifications on the country’s security and law and order situation". The committee said, “This is quite inexcusable as failure to absorb the funds even after surrendering 40 to 60 per cent of the budgetary allocations at the RE stage is an indicator of underperformance.”

While taking evidence from Delhi Police, the committee asked its officers why most of the funds for safety of women remained unutilised. The Committee said the premier police force must take steps to popularise the Himmat App in Hindi also so that it can effectively help women in distress.

MS Dhoni-led Jharkhand sailed into the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare domestic 50-overs cricket tournament with a six-wicket win over Vidarbha in their quarter-final here on Wednesday.

Vidarbha could only score 159/9 in 50 overs and Jharkhand lost only four wickets to overhaul the target with 4.5 overs to spare.

Middle-order batsman Ravi Jangid rescued Vidarbha with a 62 as the western side could only score 159/9. Ganesh Satish was Vidarbha's second-highest scorer with a 35.

Jangid shared a 61-run eighth-wicket stand with Rajneesh Gurbani (22) to give Vidarbha bowlers at least something to bowl for.

For Jharkhand, Monu Kumar took two wickets, while Varun Aaron, Rahul Shukla, Kaushal Singh, Shahbaz Nadeem bagged a wicket each.

Chasing the small target, Jharkhand got off to a superb start through Ishan Kishan (35) and Pratyush Singh (33), who put together 68 runs for the opening wicket. Both the openers were dismissed by Ravikumar Thakur.

Kumar Deobrat (17) and Saurabh Tiwary (17) were the other two Jharkhand wickets to fall.

Then, Ishank Jaggi (41 not out) and iconic captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18 not out) steered Jharkhand to victory without any trouble.

Akshay Wakhare and Jangid also earned a wicket apiece for Vidarbha.

As many as 7,059 Indian nationals are lodged in foreign jails, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said due to the strict provisions of privacy laws, the US, Canada, Australia and many countries in Europe do not share information about Indian nationals in their prisons.

"However, as per information available, 7,059 Indian nationals are lodged in foreign jails…. Various articles seized from them include VOIP set along with SIM cards, fake passports, narcotic drugs, fake currency, boats, GPS, stimulating tablets, foreign currency and gold," he said.

Steps taken by Indian missions include requesting local authorities for speedy trials, seeking remission of sentence, providing advice and guidance in legal and other matters, ensuring fair and humane treatment in foreign jails, issuing of emergency certificates and repatriation to India of those who are released, the minister noted.

Singh also added that in some countries, the mission also requests the local government for grant of amnesty to the arrested Indians and if any mercy petition for remission of sentences is received from the family members of the Indian prisoners, the Mission forwards them to the local authorities for consideration.

India has signed Treaties for Transfer of Sentenced Persons with 42 countries, under which Indian prisoners have been brought back from some of these countries.

Aimed at boosting cooperation between the two navies, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, Commander-in-Chief, Russian Federation Navy, along with a four member Russian Navy delegation on Wednesday held talks with his Indian counterpart, Admiral Sunil Lanba.

 Admiral Korolev's four-day visit today at the head of Russian delegation is aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between the two countries and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation.

 The Admiral is also scheduled to meet Defence Minister Arun Jaitley as also the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Secretary.

 India is the largest importer of defence equipment from Russia and majority of the armament inventory in Indian Armed Forces is of Soviet or Russian origin.

 The Indian Navy cooperates with the Russian Federation Navy on many fronts, which include operational interactions, training, hydrographic cooperation, information technology and exchange of Subject Matter Experts.

 Besides, the two Navies have been conducting bilateral Maritime Exercise ‘Indra Navy’, since 2003. Eight editions have been held so far, with the last being held off Visakhapatnam in December last year.

  Admiral Kolorev  is also scheduled to visit Mumbai where he will hold discussions with the Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command as well as visit an indigenously built destroyer INS Mysore, Naval Dockyard and Mazagon Dock and Shipbuilders Limited.

Taking stock of how to control the rising non performing assets of banks, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the rate of increase in NPAs has slowed down in the last quarter of the current financial year.

Jaitley added that dealing with NPAs of banks is a challenging task and the government was considering several oversight committees to help with resolution of bad debts. The core problem of bad debts is with very large corporates, predominantly in the steel, power, infrastructure and textile sectors, he said during a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on subject of NPAs.

“One of the members said that the Chief Vigilance Officer of a public sector bank be made a part of the credit committee of the bank and that first the board of the bank should take a call about the decisions being taken by their officials rather than investigating agencies directly acting on the basis of their own information,” the ministry said.

Public sector banks NPAs surged by over Rs 1 lakh crore during April-December period of 2016-17. Gross NPAs in the first nine months of the current fiscal rose to Rs 6.06 lakh crore by December 31, 2016, from from Rs 5.02 lakh crore during the entire year of 2015-16.

“It was also suggested that apart from recovery proceedings, criminal action must be taken against the big willful defaulters and their photographs may also be published. A member also suggested that under the SARFAESI (The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, the focus should be on catching big willful defaulters,” as per the statement.

Some members suggested that the government must go ahead to establish a bad bank or a Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA) and it should only consider those NPAs where sector specific reforms do not work. The Economic Survey for 2016-17 has suggested the idea of PARA to resolve the problem of bad loans. On the issue of setting-up a ‘bad bank’, Jaitley said that several possible alternatives exist and the issue is being debated on public platforms.

The minister added that the Reserve Bank of India has set up an Oversight Committee to look into process of the NPA cases referred to it by the different banks. Seeing the response and its performance, the government is considering multiplication of such committees, he said.

It was also suggested by various members that since Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) are in the private sector and their performance is not up to the mark in many cases, therefore, close monitoring of the operations of ARCs should be done through stringent regulations.

NPAs are concentrated with large corporates, even though these have shown a declining trend in the last quarter of the current financial year, Jaitley said. Large corporates expanded their capacity during the boom period (2003-08) but could not face the onslaught of global financial crisis and consequent slowdown thereafter.

The government is taking sectoral specific measures to deal with the problem of NPAs specifically in the resolution of large debts. “The steel sector is on its path of recovery while many decisions have been taken in the infrastructure, power and textile sectors to resolve their problems,” Jaitley said.

During the meeting, government officials made a presentation on the various regulatory and legistlative measures taken recently by the Centre and the RBI to deal with NPAs. It was pointed out that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has already been set up under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Several MPs and senior finance ministry officials participated in the meeting.

Dinesh Chandimal rode his luck to score an unbeaten half-century for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Colombo on Wednesday after the tourists made a dream start to their 100th Test match.

The home side reached 238-7 before bad light stopped the opening day's play, recovering from 70-4 on a turning pitch at the P. Sara Oval, owing mainly to Chandimal's patient 86 not out.

Chandimal shared a 66-run stand with Dhananjaya de Silva and then added 44 and 43 runs with Niroshan Dickwella and captain Rangana Herath to halt what had been a quick procession of wickets.

Chandimal, who faced 210 balls and hit four fours in his knock, was given out lbw on 38 off the bowling of left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan but the decision was overturned following a review.

He then top-edged another left-arm spinner Taijul Islam to fine leg on 46 but was given a benefit of the doubt by the third umpire as TV replays on whether Mehedi Hasan had caught him cleanly were inconclusive.

Coming into the side for Lahiru Kumara as Sri Lanka's only change from their 259-run win in the first Test in Galle, de Silva gave Chandimal good support before he was bowled by Taijul for 34.

Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with 34 after de Silva's departure before Herath joined Chandimal in his effort to give Sri Lanka innings a decent look.

Herath, unbeaten on 18 at the close of play, also had his share of luck as he had an lbw decision overturned off Shakib.

Bangladesh, sent into bowl first by Herath, had taken the honours in the opening session as off-spinner Mehedi struck twice and fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Subashis Roy took one wicket apiece.

Milestone Test

Mustafizur put the visitors in good heart in their milestone Test when he forced an edge from opener Dimuth Karunaratne, having cranked up the pressure by bowling three successive maidens.

Mehedi took a brilliant catch at gully as Karunaratne departed after making just seven runs.

Mehedi then struck in his third over, enticing Kusal Mendis out of his crease before Mushfiqur Rahim completed a stumping.

Mendis was the man-of-the-match in the first Test in Galle after scoring 194 but he departed this time having scored just five.

Sri Lanka's troubles deepened when Upul Tharanga edged Mehedi to Soumya Sarkar at slip for 15 after earlier being given a reprieve by a television replay when he was given out lbw off Mustafizur for six.

Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne tried to revive the innings but Subashis struck on the stroke of lunchtime when he trapped Gunaratne lbw for 13.

Bangladesh, in their quest to draw level in the second match of the two-Test series, made four changes to the squad.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das was ruled out on the eve of the match with a rib fracture, allowing Mosaddek Hossain to earn his debut.

Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah and Taskin Ahmed made way for Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman and Taijul. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was greeted with loud thumping of desks by members as she made her first appearance in the Lok Sabha after recovering from a kidney transplant surgery, made a detailed statement on the recent spate of violence in the United States of America against Indians and assured the House that the government was giving highest priority to the safety of the Indian diaspora.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress Leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge and other members welcomed the minister and wished her long life and speedy recovery.

Giving a detailed account of the incidents of attacks on Indian citizens in the US, Swaraj said India has raised it at the highest level.

"Safety and security of Indian Diaspora abroad remains a top priority for this government. We are in a continuous dialogue with the US government. Close contacts with the local Indian community groups are being maintained through our embassy and consulates to address any emergent issues.

"We will remain vigilant to developments impacting the lives of Indians abroad and do everything possible to safeguard their interests and welfare," Swaraj said.

The minister's response came a week after the Lok Sabha members raised concern over hate crimes against Indians in the US.

The members were voicing concern over the killing of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas on 22 February in an apparent hate crime, and of another Indian Harnish Patel a week later.

A Sikh man, Deep Rai, who was an American citizen, was fired at in a racial attack last week, and is out of danger now.

"In all three cases, the government, through its embassy and consulates, immediately reached out to the affected persons and their families for extending all possible help and support. I have personally spoken to the families of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Deep Rai," Swaraj said.

The minister said the Foreign Secretary discussed this matter in his meetings with Cabinet Ministers and senior functionaries of the US Administration as well as with the Congressional leadership during his recent visit to the US.

"The US authorities have responded strongly and assured us that they were working with all concerned agencies to ensure speedy justice," Swaraj said.

The minister said there had been widespread condemnation of these incidents by the US leadership. "President Donald Trump referred to the Kansas shooting in his address to a joint session of Congress on February 28 and said that the US stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms," the minister said.

She said Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan issued a statement expressing the House's condolences on the killing of Kuchibotla and the House also observed a moment of silence over the incident.

Governor of Kansas Sam Brownback also offered his condolences and assured thorough investigation, the minister said, adding that in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Brownback praised the "ingenuity, hard work and determination" of the Indian diaspora as well as their contributions to the State of Kansas. He assured that Kansas will remain "a welcoming, hospitable place" for Indians.

"Several Senators and Congressmen have also expressed their condolences and regret over the tragic incidents. They have been deeply appreciative of the contribution and role of the Indian community in the US," she said.

"People-to-people contacts are the foundation on which the Indo-US strategic partnership has been built. The fact that broad sections of the American society have expressed their deep sorrow and regret over these incidents reassures us that despite these individual incidents, the American society values the people-to-people engagement between our two countries," she said.

Swaraj informed the House that the killing of Kuchibhotla was being investigated by the FBI as a hate crime. On the killing of Patel, the minister said according to the Sheriff and family, it may have been an incident of dacoity, but a probe is on to ascertain if it was also a hate crime.

On the attack on Rai, the minister said it had been reported that he was asked to leave the country, but added that agencies were probing if it is a hate crime.

She asserted that these incidents did not reflect the sentiment of all Americans as the incidents had been widely condemned in the US.

Responding to queries raised by the MPs on 9 March on issue of travel advisory to its citizens, she said "the government plans to issue an advisory for Indians travelling to or residing in the US.

"I would say that prompt and clear response of the US political leadership and the law enforcement authorities to these incidents and the widespread messages of sympathy and support from all quarters in the US give us confidence that these incidents are acts of individuals and do not represent the overwhelming sentiments of the American people towards India," she said.

"This was demonstrated by the American national Ian Grillot, who suffered serious injury while helping the two Indians. I have saluted his heroism and am sure the House joins me in wishing him speedy recovery," she said.

Even as N Biren Singh was sworn in as Manipur's new Chief Minister on Wednesday, the threat of BJP ally National People's Party (NPP) to pull out in case portfolios of its choice are not given loomed large.

The NPP is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Manipur and has four members in the 60-member assembly.

NPP President Thangmilien Kipgen wrote to the BJP national leadership on Tuesday that the party will pull out if the agreement between the two parties is not honoured.

A meeting between NPP and BJP leaders was held in Imphal on March 12, wherein it was agreed that all four NPP MLAs will be made cabinet ministers. 

The NPP is demanding the Home Department for Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar, Health and Family Welfare Department for L. Jayentakumar, Public Works Department for N. Kysii and Rural Development and Panchayats Department for L. Haokip. All four were sworn in on Wednesday. 

The Chief Minister has been unable to decide on portfolios since many other ministers too are demanding the same. 

BJP leaders in charge of Manipur had reportedly assured the allocation of these portfolios to the Naga People's Front, which too has four MLAs. 

Informed sources said the lone independent MLA Asabuddin was now in the company of Congress leaders in Assam. 

He arrived in Imphal but was not allowed to come out of the international airport here but whisked away to Guwahati. 

Though the BJP-led government claims his support, he was absent at Wednesday's swearing-in ceremony. 
 

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday decided to move court over alleged tampering of EVMs in the recent Assembly polls, an issue which led Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to cry conspiracy.

Kejriwal also said that before 2014 Lok Sabha polls even some BJP leaders like L K Advani were not in favour of the EVMs.

The move by Mayawati and the comments by Kejriwal evoked derision from the BJP and its ally SAD.

As the leaders of BSP and AAP raised their pitch in questioning the reliability of the EVMs, BJP said there are "some defects" in Mayawati and not in the Electronic Voting Machines(EVM).

Kejriwal faced flak from BJP ally Akali Dal whose leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal advised the AAP chief to go for 'vipassana', a style of meditation, instead of casting aspersions on the reliability of the voting machines.

BSP was decimated in the recent Assembly polls in UP where it finished a distant third winning 19 seats in the 403 -member House while the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) making a debut in Punjab bagged 20 seats in the 117-member Assembly. The ruling SAD-BJP combine was trounced in Punjab.

Mayawati said the BSP has decided to observe a 'black day' every month against the "murder of democracy" by the BJP and charged that the saffron victory in UP smacked of "dishonesty" and "fraud".

"After we did not get a proper reply from the Election Commission on our complaint lodged with them soon after the results were announced on March 11, the party has decided to go to court in this matter so as to save (the country) from such a fraud in the future and save democracy," she said.

The BSP leader was speaking to mediapersons in Lucknow ahead of addressing partymen at a review meeting on the party's debacle. BSP had 80 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly.

"Our party has also decided to launch an agitation in Uttar Pradesh and other states to expose this fraud…the party will observe 'black day' at all the district headquarters in UP and state headquarters in other states on the 11th of every month, the date on which they murdered democracy, and the first demonstration will be on April 11," she said.

The BSP leader, who had alleged largescale tampering in the EVMs soon after results were announced on March 11, said that in order to hide its "dishonest victory", BJP has now taken refuge in saying had that been the case they would have done the same in Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

Kejirwal said EVM tampering may have led to AAP's poor showing in Punjab, alleging it could be part of a conspiracy to keep the party out of power in the state.

The AAP chief, whose party won 20 seats in the 117-member Assembly with a vote share of 24.9 per cent, claimed that around 20 to 25 per cent of its votes may have been "transferred" to the SAD-BJP coalition.

The poll result is "beyond understanding" and raises a "big question mark" on the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) as political pundits across the spectrum had "predicted a landslide" for AAP, he told a press conference in Delhi.

Kejriwal claimed that tampering with EVMs could have been done "selectively" in significant states like Punjab, where plans were to "keep AAP out of power". At the same time, the AAP supremo said he takes the "whole responsibility" of party's performance in the state.

The BJP ridiculed Mayawati's allegations of EVM tampering and asked her to "gracefully accept the people's mandate".

"When you win, EVMs are right. When you lose, EVMs are wrong. This shows that there are some defects in you (Mayawati)," Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

Harsimrat advised Kejriwal to go for 'vipassana' instead of casting aspersions on the reliability of EVMs.

Harsimrat, the wife of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, also said the Delhi chief minister may have "lost" his mental balance following AAP's poor show in Punjab.

"He (Kejriwal) has lost his mental balance so he is saying things like this. He did not say anything when AAP had won 67 seats in Delhi," she told reporters in Delhi.

She said the people of Punjab have thrown out the AAP and it would be better if Kejriwal focuses his energy to manage the party's affairs in Delhi. "He should do vipassana.

Dubbing Pakistan as the ‘world’s terrorism factory’, India on Wednesday hit out at the neighbouring country for alienating its people through continued mistreatment of people belonging to the minority groups such as Hindus, Christians, Shias and Ahmadiyas.

‘’Pakistan has referred to the situation of minorities in India. Minorities in India have been Prime Ministers, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, senior Cabinet Ministers, senior civil servants, cricket team captains, Bollywood superstars ~ can the minorities of Pakistan claim even a shadow of this? All they have are blasphemy laws and relentless abuse and violation of their human rights,’’ the Indian representative said at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) currently under way in Geneva.

The Indian official was exercising New Delhi’s right of reply in response to a statement made by Pakistan in which Islamabad made ‘fallacious references’ to Jammu and Kashmir.

Denouncing Pakistan’s statement as interference in the internal matters of India, the Indian official said terrorism was the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial and objective observer.

‘’A part of the territories of our state remains under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan. It is unfortunate that in recent times the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship because of Pakistan's occupation and discriminatory policies,’’ New Delhi said.

India asserted that the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir was part of a pluralistic and secular democracy, where an independent judiciary, an active media and a vibrant civil society guarantee freedoms. In contrast, PoK was administered by a ‘deep state’ and has become a hub for the global export of terror.

Pakistan's continued support for terror groups operating in J & K was the main challenge to protecting the human rights of Indian citizens in the state. Pakistan's selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made, underscored the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth.

‘’We do not accept attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J & K over the last six decades since our independence. We ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner. Pakistan must rein in its compulsive hostility towards India,’’ the Indian official said, adding Islamabad must fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of PoK.

Adolescents in the US may be using less drugs because they are constantly stimulated and entertained by their computers and smartphones, experts say.

"There is a possibility that smartphones are contributing to a decline in drug use among teenagers," Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse — a part of National Institutes of Health — in Maryland, US was quoted as saying to nytimes.com. 

According to a survey, 'Monitoring the Future — an annual US government-funded report measuring drug use by teenagers', the use of illicit drugs in 2016 other than marijuana was at the lowest level in the 40-year history of the project for 8th, 10th and 12th graders.

"This period was also notable because declining use patterns were cutting across groups — boys and girls, public and private school, not driven by one particular demographic," Volkow said.

However, the correlation does not mean that one phenomenon is causing the other, but the interactive media may play similar impulses as drug experimentation, including sensation-seeking and the desire for independence.

Or it might be that the gadgets simply absorb a lot of time that could be used for other pursuits, including partying, the survey said.

Thus Volkow described the interactive media as "an alternative reinforcer" to drugs, adding that "teens can get literally high when playing these games".

The findings of the survey showed that the use of marijuana is down over the past decade for eighth and 10th graders even as social acceptability is up. 

Although marijuana use has risen among 12th graders, the use of cocaine, hallucinogens, ecstasy and crack are all down, too, while LSD use has remained steady.

Even as heroin use has become an epidemic among adults in some communities, it has fallen among high schoolers over the past decade.
 

A UN body on Wednesday proposed extension of the Istanbul-Teheran-Islamabad (ITI) train corridor to Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka (DKD) to promote regional cooperation.

It maintained that the train corridor has the potential to become an important transport artery for intra-regional trade and an important conduit of Asia's connectivity with Europe.

"The operationalisation of a cohesive international transport network faces gaps and challenges in South and South-West Asia, compared to other subregions of Asia and the Pacific," Matthew Hammill, officer-in-charge of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, said here.

ESCAP, as the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region, is mandated with the promotion of regional cooperation for sustainable development.

Transport connectivity is a cornerstone of regional cooperation, shaping regional production networks and trade patterns through its impact on competitiveness.

"For rail, this includes a proposal to extend the Istanbul Tehran Islamabad (ITI) Container Train Corridor to Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka (DKD). This ITI-DKD corridor can also be extended further to Yangon to become the ITI DKD-Y Container Rail Corridor," Hammill said.

ESCAP in coordination with Indian Railways organised a two-day conference here to explore cross-border rail connectivity in South and South West Asia.

Advocating Dhaka-Istanbul rail connectivity, Hammill said, "A key advantage of the ITI-DKD-Y corridor is that, as a trunk rail route traversing the breadth of Southern Asia, it can be linked with other corridors longitudinally." 

The international meet was attended by representatives from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Russian Federation among others.

Hammill said, "It can also provide multi-modal linkages to connect with landlocked developing countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal and as well as various Central Asian countries. The corridor has the potential to become an important transport artery for intra-regional trade and an important conduit of Asia's connectivity with Europe." 

The meeting was part of ESCAP's continued advocacy towards operationalising this international rail corridor.

ESCAP's efforts are focused on making such policy tools and guidelines available for the benefit of participating countries.

Its Regional Cooperation Framework for Facilitation of International Railway Transport is an important guiding document in this respect, which can help to address various operational challenges and non-physical barriers.

Hammil said the meeting aims to share information and details about the extent of proposed measures for the development of cross-border railway transport among South and South-West Asian countries.

It also aims to discuss further steps for strengthening international railway transport in the subregion.

Pakistan’s bygone cricketers Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad on Wednesday made a comeback to the limited-overs’ squads for the upcoming West Indies tour.

West Indies will host Pakistan for four T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests, to be held from March 26 to May 14, 2017.

Both the batsmen, Kamran and Shehzad, earned a national call-up following a remarkable Pakistan Super League (PSL) stint, where they featured in the top-five run-scorers’ list.

Kamran, 35, smashed 353 runs the T20 league for Peshawar Zalmi to help them win the PSL title.

The 25-year-old opening batsman Shehzad, playing for the PSL finalists Quetta Gladiators, scored 242 runs at a notable strike rate of 132.24.

Kamran last played for Pakistan in April 2014, while Shehzad last featured in the national side in March 2016. Both the batsmen were ousted because of slump in their form, however, watching them regaining confidence now the fans expect a lot from the top-order.

Besides Kamran and Shehzad, the spin duo of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan carved their space in the national squad through their PSL heroics. Mohammad Asghar, Fahim Ashraf and Asif Zakir were few more new entrants in the national side.

Speedster Mohammad Amir missed out from the T20I squad as pacers Rumman Raees and Usman Khan Shinwari were named to lead the bowling attack.

T20I squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Rumman Raees, Usman Khan Shinwari

ODI squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Zakir, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Fahim Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Asghar, Sarfraz Ahmed

A total of 75 people were arrested from different states for alleged links with dreaded terror group ISIS, the Centre said on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir informed the Rajya Sabha that as per the available information, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police have arrested altogether 75 individuals for suspected links to the ISIS terror network.

Of the 75 persons, 21 were arrested from Kerala, 16 from Telangana, 9 from Karnataka, 8 from Maharashtra, 6 from Madhya Pradesh, 4 from Uttarakhand, 3 from Uttar Pradesh, 2 from Rajasthan, 4 from Tamil Nadu and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal.

Ahir said a few incidents of unfurling of flags of ISIS by some misguided youths were noticed on different occasions in Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past.

"Police and public order being State subjects, the state government concerned has been directed to take appropriate action against such elements as per relevant provisions of law," he said in a written reply.

Quoting reports of the security agencies, the minister added that a few educated youths got attracted to the ISIS ideology through social media.