It was a sunny Friday morning here with the minimum temperature recorded at 12.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average, the weather office said.

The sky will remain clear throughout the day with the maximum temperature likely to hover around 26 degrees Celsius, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Humidity at 8.30 am was 59 per cent.

Thursday's maximum temperature was recorded at 25.5 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, while the minimum temperature settled at 11 degrees Celsius, average for this time of the season.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone on Thursday negated the reports that she was doing the official remake of Hollywood movie "Mr & Mrs Smith".

"Well, let's set the record straight because there have been a lot of rumours regarding a lot of films I am supposedly doing. I think usually there is a lot of dignity involved when an actor is approached for a film, whether it's a narration or when an actor saying yes or no to a film," she said at the launch of Gillette Venus Breeze here.

"I had always maintained, when I am offered a film, I'll talk about it, if not, I'll never talk about it. All the speculation can go on. The only film I am doing now is "Padmavati", it's consuming all my life. When I have something else to talk about I will do that," she added.

The "Bajirao Mastani" star said: "There is a certain decorum, conduct when you're offered a film, whether you do it or don't. I feel it's not a very classy thing when an untrue information is given out regarding my work." 

After making the Hollywood debut with "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage", there were reports that Deepika may walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

However, when quizzed about her Oscar appearance, the actress, clearing the air, said: "That's an interesting question but no, no."

"Padmavati" is helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and also features Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in pivotal roles.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone on Thursday negated the reports that she was doing the official remake of Hollywood movie "Mr & Mrs Smith".

"Well, let's set the record straight because there have been a lot of rumours regarding a lot of films I am supposedly doing. I think usually there is a lot of dignity involved when an actor is approached for a film, whether it's a narration or when an actor saying yes or no to a film," she said at the launch of Gillette Venus Breeze here.

"I had always maintained, when I am offered a film, I'll talk about it, if not, I'll never talk about it. All the speculation can go on. The only film I am doing now is "Padmavati", it's consuming all my life. When I have something else to talk about I will do that," she added.

The "Bajirao Mastani" star said: "There is a certain decorum, conduct when you're offered a film, whether you do it or don't. I feel it's not a very classy thing when an untrue information is given out regarding my work." 

After making the Hollywood debut with "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage", there were reports that Deepika may walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

However, when quizzed about her Oscar appearance, the actress, clearing the air, said: "That's an interesting question but no, no."

"Padmavati" is helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and also features Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in pivotal roles.

The insurgent groups in Manipur have called for a shutdown in the state on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigns here for the upcoming assembly election, a statement said.

Late on Thursday night, the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) that constitutes of six insurgent groups, in a communique said that the blockade would start at 6 am on February 25 and would be in place till Modi leaves the state capital here.

The police said that security measures were beefed up to ensure that there was no law and order problem during the one-hour visit of the Prime Minister. 

The Corcom statement also levelled serious charges against the Centre, including driving a wedge between the communities who have lived in peace and harmony for generations. 

Members of public were asked not to venture out during the "curfew". However media and those in essential services were exempted. 

The established insurgent groups in Manipur have always boycotted visits of the central dignitaries, an official said. 

Police said: "During such public curfew people usually stayed indoors and did not stick out their necks." 

There was always a thin attendance in such public functions. There were also stray violent incidents to drive home the message that the "boycott call" should not be taken lightly, the official added. 

The ruling Congress party has demanded that during his visit, Modi should spell out the details of the framework agreement that New Delhi had signed with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) in 2015. 

Students and women activists also demanded the disclosure of details of the agreement.

Elections for the 60-seat assembly in the state will be held in two phases on March 4 and 8.

The insurgent groups in Manipur have called for a shutdown in the state on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigns here for the upcoming assembly election, a statement said.

Late on Thursday night, the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) that constitutes of six insurgent groups, in a communique said that the blockade would start at 6 am on February 25 and would be in place till Modi leaves the state capital here.

The police said that security measures were beefed up to ensure that there was no law and order problem during the one-hour visit of the Prime Minister. 

The Corcom statement also levelled serious charges against the Centre, including driving a wedge between the communities who have lived in peace and harmony for generations. 

Members of public were asked not to venture out during the "curfew". However media and those in essential services were exempted. 

The established insurgent groups in Manipur have always boycotted visits of the central dignitaries, an official said. 

Police said: "During such public curfew people usually stayed indoors and did not stick out their necks." 

There was always a thin attendance in such public functions. There were also stray violent incidents to drive home the message that the "boycott call" should not be taken lightly, the official added. 

The ruling Congress party has demanded that during his visit, Modi should spell out the details of the framework agreement that New Delhi had signed with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) in 2015. 

Students and women activists also demanded the disclosure of details of the agreement.

Elections for the 60-seat assembly in the state will be held in two phases on March 4 and 8.

Three Russian athletes have been given the green light to compete internationally under a neutral flag by athletics' world governing body, the IAAF.

Pole vaulter Anzhelika Sidorova, sprinter Kristina Sivkova and hammer thrower Aleksei Sokirskii all met the "exceptional eligibility criteria" to compete in international competition as neutral athletes, the IAAF said on Thursday, the same day as the entry deadline for the March 3-5 European Indoor Championships in Belgrade.

The trio join long jumper Darya Klishina and doping whistle-blower and former drugs cheat Yuliya Stepanova, who were previously declared eligible to compete.

The Russian athletics federation (RusAF) remains suspended from competition because of widespread state-sponsored doping, but individual athletes can compete as neutrals if they are proved to be drug-free.

"Their participation as neutral athletes in international competition is still subject to acceptance by the individual athlete and the organiser of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition," the IAAF added in a statement.

The IAAF has received a total of 48 applications from Russian athletes, 28 of which have been endorsed by RusAF. Six applications have also been declined whilst the remaining applications, "many for competitions later in the year, are currently under review", it added.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe said: "The application process to compete internationally as neutral athletes is about our desire to support the hopes and aspirations of all clean athletes including Russian athletes who have been failed by their national system.

"While prioritising applications based upon the entry deadlines of the competitions concerned, the primary responsibility of the Doping Review Board must always be to safeguard the integrity of competition."

In a recent auction, conducted by state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), wind power tariff dropped to record low of Rs.3.46 per unit.

“After Solar cost reduction below Rs.3/unit, Wind power cost down to Rs.3.46/unit through transparent auction,” Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, adding, “A green future awaits India”.

The tariff-based competitive bidding is being conducted by SECI for wind power capacity totalling 1,000 MW for supply of power to non-windy states.

The power tariff rate was much lower than the expected rate. Some experts had predicted tariff of around Rs.4 per unit.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he admires children who follow professions which are traditional in their families.

The "Piku" star launched Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sons album – 'Journey- Rabab to Sarod' – by Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, here on Thursday evening.

"It's very rare for the heads of family to follow their tradition into the next generation and I really want to compliment you for continuing this tradition in your family…

Unfortunately with me it didn't happen because when I was young somebody asked my mother, 'so is your son going to be another poet'? 

"She said, 'one poet in the family is enough'. So I didn't follow that. But thank you so much Amjad Ali Khan Saab for building these two into wonderful masters themselves and I wish them all the very best," he said.

The 74-year-old actor said it was a proud moment for him to launch the album as he has known both Amaan and Ayaan since they were toddlers.

"For me personally it's another kind of journey. Both Amaan and Ayaan were introduced to me as toddlers many many years ago, to see them today become masters of their craft, taught by the eminent Ustad Amjad Ali Khan saab, is indeed a wonderful journey," he said.

At the launch, Amaan and Ayaan performed along with Daud Khan Sadozai, who has also collaborated with the duo on the album.

They opened the night with a tribute to iconic poet Rabindranath Tagore by playing two songs on their sarod, including the famous track 'Ekla Chalo Re'.

The event was also attended by Bachchan's wife and veterana actress Jaya Bachchan.

The album, backed by Sa Re Ga Ma, includes 11 songs and one of them also features Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Matt Reeves has officially taken over the helmer's chair for the new "Batman" film after he closed a deal to direct and produce the project for Warner Bros.

Reeves has been a front-runner to replace Ben Affleck ever since the Oscar winner stepped down as director of the upcoming DC Comics movie, reported Variety.

"I have loved the Batman story since I was a child," Reeves said in a statement.

"He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honoured and excited to be working with Warner Bros. to bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen." 

The news comes less than a week after discussions between Reeves and studio bosses allegedly broke down, but now it seems all has been resolved.

"We are thrilled to have Matt Reeves taking the helm of Batman, the crown jewel of our DC slate," said Toby Emmerich, the president and CCO of Warner Bros.

"Matts deep roots in genre films and his evolution into an emotional world-building director make him the perfect filmmaker to guide the Dark Knight through this next journey." 

Affleck, who took on the role of Batman for last year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", is still expected to star in "The Batman", despite stepping down as the film's director at the end of January.

Reeves has enjoyed success on the big screen films like "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and "Cloverfield". His next movie, "War For the Planet of the Apes" will hit cinemas in July.

Dev Patel feels audience are annoyed with him for only playing Indian-origin roles and it was not easy for him to land his part in the film "Lion".

The 26-year-old actor, who essays the role of Saroo Brierley, an Indian man who is adopted by an Australian family and grows up in Tasmania in the Garth Davis directorial believes diversity is double-edged sword, said in podcast with Variety.

"I was too obvious for 'Lion,' coming off 'Slumdog (Millionaire)', so I had to fight for it. I just hope people don't look past the struggle it (diversity) takes for us.

They're doing us a bigger injustice that way," Dev said.

The actor said it is still difficult for him to get "good scripts" but is proud of landing those five scripts that he had selected.

Dev added, "It confuses me sometimes because I feel people are mad at me for playing (Indian-specific roles). When I look at 'Lion,' I want people to look at the transformation I went through. I don't want them to look at me as an Indian guy."

Pop superstar Beyonce has encouraged fans to take part in the 100 Days of Kindness challenge to show their support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

The "Halo" singer, who is pregnant with twins, has taken to social media to rally her fans after US President Donald Trump and his administration announced the removal of federal guidelines that allowed transgender school students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

The news has prompted a new backlash online against the Republican leader and his conservative policies, with protesters insisting rolling back protections put in place by former President Barack Obama will lead to more discrimination against transgender students.

Beyonce has shared a link to get fans involved with the 100 Days of Kindness challenge, launched by officials at educational group GLSEN to combat bullying and discrimination against LGBTQ youths, reported Huffington Post.

"#LGBTQ students need to know we support them," she wrote on her social media pages.

"Share your support to #protecttransyouth at glsen.org/100days & put #KindnessInAction GLSEN".

GLSEN executives have since expressed their gratitude to the pop icon for her help in highlighting their cause.

"We are so thrilled that Beyonce is standing up for transgender youth by joining GLSEN's 100 Days of Kindness Campaign at this very difficult time," executive director Dr Eliza Byard said.

Beyonce has long championed equal rights for all and used her platform last year to speak out against the so-called 'Bathroom Bill' introduced in North Carolina, which forced transgender residents to use gender-specific restrooms.

Australia managed to post just four more runs to their overnight total on the second day of the Pune Test, Mitchell Starc (61) being dismissed on the fifth ball of the first over itself, leaving the visitors with a first-innings total of 260.

Starc began the day on an aggressive note, hitting a four but Ravichandran Ashwin didn't lose heart and finally got the troublesome tail-ender to attempt a slog sweep which went straight to Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket.

A good start to the session for the hosts as Starc had frustrated them towards the end of the day, stretching their first-innings total to a respectable 250 plus.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4/32 with able support from Ashwin (3/63) and Jadeja 2/74) while Matt Renshaw top-scored for the visitors with a well-composed 68.

India have sent in openers Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul to start the innings.

US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos defended Trump's reversal of bathroom regulations for transgender students saying the issue is "best solved at the state and local level", media reports said.

"This is an issue best solved at the state and local level. Schools, communities, and families can find – and in many cases have found – solutions that protect all students," The Washington Post cited a statement issued by DeVos.

Administration officials said late on Wednesday that they are ordering the nation's public schools to disregard guidance issued by the Obama administration saying that prohibiting transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity violates federal anti-discrimination laws.

Their were reports earlier on Wednesday that DeVos had opposed the move. She was at odds with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was intent on reversing the guidance.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer denied that DeVos and Sessions were at odds over the decision saying DeVos agreed with the decision "100 per cent".

Nearly 10 years after a "doomsday" seed vault opened on an Arctic island, some 50,000 new samples from seed collections around the world, including India, have been deposited in the world's largest repository built to safeguard against wars or natural disasters wiping out global food crops.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a gene bank built underground on the isolated island in a permafrost zone some 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole, was opened in 2008 as a master backup to the world's other seed banks, in case their deposits are lost.

The latest specimens sent to the bank, located on the Svalbard archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole, included more than 15,000 reconstituted samples from an international research center that focuses on improving agriculture in dry zones.

They were the first to retrieve seeds from the vault in 2015 before returning new ones after multiplying and reconstituting them.

The specimens consisted of seed samples for some of the world's most vital food sources like potato, sorghum, rice, barley, chickpea, lentil and wheat.

Speaking from Svalbard, Aly Abousabaa, the head of the International Center for Agricultural Research, said Thursday that borrowing and reconstituting the seeds before returning them had been a success and showed that it was possible to "find solutions to pressing regional and global challenges."

The agency borrowed the seeds three years ago because it could not access its gene bank of 141,000 specimens in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, and so was unable to regenerate and distribute them to breeders and researchers.

"The reconstituted seeds will play a critical role in developing climate-resilient crops for generations," Abousabaa said.

The 50,000 samples deposited yesterday were from seed collections in Benin, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, the US, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus and Britain. It brought the total deposits in the snow-covered vault with a capacity of 4.5 million to 940,000.

Within 300 days of winning a historic Premier League title with Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri was sacked by the English club on Thursday, according to an official media release.

The club stated that Claudio, who was appointed City manager in July 2015, led the Foxes to the greatest triumph in the Club’s 133-year history last season, as they were crowned champions of England for the first time. His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question. However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club’s Premier League status under threat and the Board felt that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the Club’s greatest interest.

Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City. But we are duty-bound to put the Club’s long-term interests above all sense of personal sentiment, no matter how strong that might be.”

Assistant Manager Craig Shakespeare and First Team Coach Mike Stowell will take charge of the squad until a new manager is appointed.

Assistant Manager and First Team Coach Paolo Benetti and First Team Sport Science and Conditioning Coach Andrea Azzalin have also parted company with the club.

The Board have begun the recruitment process and ex-manager Nigel Pearson is rumoured to be in the running to replace Ranieri.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was among many of the who’s who of the footballing word to offer words of support. The Portuguese posted a picture on Instagram of the two with the caption: “ Champion of England and FIFA Manager of the Year. Sacked. That’s new football Claudio. Keep smiling Amico. Nobody can delete the history you wrote.”

While their title defence had been admittedly dismal, languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table, just one point away from the drop zone currently. Their Champions League form has been impressive, however, as the Foxes topped their group and remain in contention to make the quarterfinals despite a 2-1 deficit against Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Singer Ed Sheeran says former One Direction member Harry Styles is working on music which will "show him off as an artist and a singer".

While there's no word on when the record will be out, Sheeran – who is a close friend of Styles – hinted that it could be sooner than people think while talking to Heat, reports mirror.co.uk.

He said: "I've heard a little bit. I've heard a little. It really shows him off as an artist and a singer, which is what it was always going to be.

"I can't say too much about it as it's not my project, and I've got no idea when it's coming out. It's quality."

There's no official word on when Styles's album will be released. Before his music comes out, Styles will make his debut in World War II movie Dunkirk.

The apex body of six insurgent groups in Manipur, the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) has imposed a curfew from 6 am on Saturday.

Corcom said that the curfew shall remain effective till Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves Imphal after his electioneering.

Police said that security measures have been beefed up to ensure that there is no law and order problem during the one hour visit of the Prime Minister.

The Corcom statement levels serious charges against the Indian government including driving a wedge between the communities who have been living in peace and harmony for generations.

Members of public are asked not to venture out during the curfew. However media and those in essential services will be exempt.

The established insurgent groups in Manipur have always boycotted visits of the central dignitaries. Police said, "During such curfews people usually stayed indoors and did not stick out their necks."  

There was always a thin attendance in the public functions. There are also some stray violent incidents to drive the message home that the boycott call should not be taken lightly.

Ruling Congress has been saying in election meetings that during his visit Modi should spell out the details the framework agreement New Delhi had signed with the NSCN(IM). Students and women activists have been demanding the disclosure of the details of the agreement.