4495 News

Make actress Aditi Rao Hydri your Valentine and also win gifts worth Rs 5L

2013-02-08 21:50:00

Here is a chance for you to woo the sultry actress Aditi Rao Hydri. All you have to do is to log on to dailybhaskar.com and impress Aditi with your romantic expressions. Try your words as either a poem,a witty one liner or a bizzare proposal and you can win a date with Murder-3's leggy lass. Apart from a date with Aditi contestants can also win up to Rs 5 lakh from Gitanjali Jewels.

Last year's winner Chadigarh's Rohit Prabhakar had a won his date with actress Amy Jackson who made her Bollywood debut with the film 'Ek Deewana Tha' opposite Prateek Babbar. So what are you waiting for? Log on to www.dailybhaskar.com and woo the Bollywood glamour girl Aditi Rao Hydri now.

Indian Pretty Ladies – the secret to IPL victories?

2013-05-01 19:55:00

Bangalore: The sixth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), saw Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) winning maximum matches (after Pune Warriors). The top players Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli have said that ‘a lot of fans’ is the secret of RCB’s energy. But we think it’s the Indian Pretty Ladies that inspire the players on the ground.

Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi replaced actress Ramya to become the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp, turning up at all the home matches. Earlier, Ramya was the official brand ambassador for RCB, a post that has been taken over by Ragini.

Beauties generally have an inclination towards the game and especially an tournament like IPL. As generally get huge money if they manage to dance at the opening and closing ceremonies of this T20 cricket fight, heroines never take any chance.

Let’s take a look at the brigade of Indian Pretty Ladies (read IPL) who dazzled the IPL and supported their favourite teams.

OMG: Dolce & Gabbana takes fashion world by storm, offers dress for Rs 27 lakh

2013-05-09 11:35:00

It's been almost 28 years since its inception and Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana hasn't failed to surprise fashion buffs even once. And, now the upmarket fashion brand has taken the fashion world by storm, courtesy one of the most expensive dresses in the world.

A ruby dress, which was part of the splendid fall winter collection displayed at the Milan Fashion Week has been priced at a whopping £32,000 (approximately Rs 27,00,000). Reports suggest that it is indeed the brand's most expensive dress ever!

Interestingly, online buyers have already been buying the brand's dresses priced between £1,500 (approximately Rs1,26,000) and £2,500 (approximately Rs 2,10,000), so a dress worth £32,000 might meet buyers as well.

A leading website quoted Net-a-Porter's buying manager Ben Matthews as saying, "If we have women in mind for a particular piece then we will go for it and with conviction too.”

But, if you are interested in buying this heavily embellished expensive dress then you need to buck up, as only 12 pieces of the ruby dress have been created. Also, only 6 of the 12 dresses have found their way on the internet.

6 most frequently asked questions about health insurance

2013-05-15 19:25:00

The author, Deepak Yohannan, is CEO of MyInsuranceClub.com, India’s first Web Aggregator for insurance products approved by IRDA. For related queries, write to him at deepak@myinsuranceclub.com

A large number of Indians have realised the importance of health insurance and now many even set aside a decent budget to invest in a comprehensive health cover. However, there are a few questions and doubts due to which the buying decision is put on hold. People evaluate health plans for months together and yet don’t buy it. Let’s quickly take a look at some of the frequently asked questions -

1. What will the health insurance policy pay for and when?

A health insurance policy ideally covers -

In-patient Treatment - Covers hospitalisation expenses due to an illness or accident. Pays for medical expenses incurred for room rent, boarding expenses, nursing, intensive care unit, medical practitioner, medicines or drugs and other related expenses

Pre-Hospitalisation - Pays for medical expenses incurred due to an illness immediately before hospitalisation

Post-Hospitalisation - Pays for medical expenses incurred immediately after the discharge post hospitalisation

Day care procedures - Pays for medical expenses which do not require 24 hours hospitalisation

2. Will the premium increase every year or remain constant? What happens to the renewal premium if I make a claim in the existing year and what happens if I do not make a claim?

The premiums charged by the health insurance company is usually the same for specific age groups such as 0 – 18, 19 – 30, 31 – 45, 46 -55, 56 – 60 and 60+. The premium usually remains constant as long as you are in the same age bracket. But once you shift from one age bracket to another the premium will increase.

If you make a claim in the existing year, then chances are your renewal premium will be increased.

The increase in premium is called load premium which can be looked at as an extra cost for the additional risk the insurance company is covering. But nowadays insurance companies state on their policy document that they will not load your premium for first five years irrespective of your claim history.

If you do not make a claim in the existing year, then the insurance company usually offers you a bonus. This bonus could be in the form of discount in premium or increase in sum assured amount.

3. What are the important things to check in the policy?

1. Check the list of hospitals that are tied up with the insurance company

2. Check the waiting period for pre-existing diseases. Usually an insurance company covers the expenses on pre-existing diseases after a period of 3 years.

3. Check if there is a clause of co-payment (means that the policyholder has to bear some percentage of expense of the claim). The co-pay clause is usually a feature in senior citizen health insurance policies.

4. Check the exclusions in the policy. This is important as one should be aware of the limitations in your policy and therefore avoid any chaos at the time of a claim.

Is it possible to take 2 health insurance policies? Does everyone offer cashless facility? Find out in the next slide...

Have low appetite for risk? Here's why you should still consider ULIPs

2013-05-20 05:00:00

The author, Deepak Yohannan, is the CEO of MyInsuranceClub.com, an online insurance price & features comparison portal. For more articles by Deepak Yohannan, visit MyInsuranceClub.com. You may write to the author at Deepak@myinsuranceclub.com

Two years ago, insurance agents were falling over themselves to sell Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs). Then insurance industry regulator IRDA stepped in and reduced ULIP commissions considerably. Since then, agents have returned to selling traditional insurance policies even as insurers began to promote low-cost high-returns ULIPs online.

Yes, the ULIP scenario appears to have improved since September 2010. The minimum sum assured is now at least ten times the annual premium. Moreover, while ULIPs were previously marketed as short-term investments, their long-term benefits are once again in focus.

The problem is that the financial product promises insurance and investment, but does justice to neither – or so the argument goes. There is also a notion that only people who are willing to take risks might see value in ULIPs. This is not always the case. Below are some reasons why people with a low appetite for risk might want to give ULIPs another look.

1. Effective in the Long Term

The ULIP has long been criticized for being a half-hearted attempt at providing life insurance and capital gains. The problem perhaps is not related to the Unit Linked Insurance Plan itself but in the way it has been marketed. Contrary to what agents said prior to 2010, ULIPs are not short-term investments. They provide good returns only over the long-term. Rather than exit the policy just as the lock-in period ends, ULIP holders should see it through its term to enjoy its benefits.

2. Enhanced Protection Since 2010

The IRDA's amendments to ULIPs have ensured greater protection for consumers. The lock-in period has increased from three to five years, reminding buyers that this is a long-term investment. A cap on surrender charge and on commissions ensures that insurers must now be more responsible with respect to how they sell a ULIP. The insurer's interest is better served if the policyholder remains invested for the full term.

Moreover, while the initial premium in pre-2010 ULIPs went into paying various charges, today's ULIPs divert a larger proportion of the early premium amount into suitable funds; hence, an early exit may offer relatively higher returns than previously.

3. A Good Choice for Less Savvy Investors

Financial advisors usually suggest a combination of traditional life insurance and mutual funds instead of ULIPs. However, consumers who have little knowledge of investment options and who are looking for an avenue to save over the long-term can benefit from a ULIP. This is because the insurer chooses suitable funds wherein the policyholder's premiums can be diverted. The policyholder thus has no headache, and is guaranteed a maturity benefit as well as capital gains.

How to Choose a ULIP if Your Risk Appetite Is Low?

1. Flexibility – Look for ULIPs that allow you the greatest flexibility regarding payment terms, premiums, add-ons and more. This is a long-term investment and a little customisability goes a long way.

2. Cost-effective – The cap on charges ensures that the costs on present-day ULIPs are lower. However, you must compare the absolute returns and maturity payouts on different products before making a choice.

3. Insurer Credibility – Review your insurer's track record with respect to fund management and claim settlement before purchasing any ULIP.

While traditional life insurance and separate mutual funds may offer better value for money, ULIPs can be a good option for some investors, but only if you choose wisely and see it through to the end.

Eight facts you didn’t know about YouTube as the site turns 8

2013-05-21 09:42:00

It is hard to believe that we didn’t have YouTube around eight years ago but it’s true. One of the most watched website YouTube has turned eight years old now. As we have seen it growing, eight years later, 100 hours of video are uploaded to the site every minute. That's just over four worth days of video. From the very first video on the site to ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ to ‘Gangnam Style’, YouTube has entertained and informed viewers in their millions.

Around one billion people visit YouTube every month for watching videos which clearly indicates that every second person using internet is visiting YouTube.

YouTube was founded by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim in 2005. One-and-a-half year after it was launched officially in November 2005, Google acquired it for $1.65 billion.

Lakhs of people are working for the content on YouTube. Over 100 companies in the world give an hour break in the day to watch funny videos on YouTube. The first video on YouTube was shared by one of its founders Jawed Karim three days after its launch. Karim spoke about elephant’s trunk in the video titled ‘Me at the Zoo.

Here are the links to some of the most popular videos on YouTube…

Me at Zoo

Gangnam Style

Charlie bit my finger

Click the slides to know some interesting facts about the website…

Also see: Amazing video: Coca-Cola brings India & Pakistan together!

Diesel bet pays off: 1 out of every 2 Honda sold is now an Amaze

2013-05-23 16:47:00

New Delhi: Honda's recently-launched Amaze sedan seems to have turbocharged the company's sale numbers and how-- the Japanese carmaker has reported a healthy jump of nearly 20 per cent in domestic sales for April this year.

At 4,852, almost half of the total 8,488 Honda units sold last month were the all-new diesel powered saloon.

The company had sold 7,075 units in the same month last year, HCIL said in a statement on Wednesday.

(Also read: Review: Honda Amaze diesel is stylish, spacious and powerful)

Among other vehicles, while 1,917 units of the Honda City were dispatched, 1,628 units of Brio found takers in the same month.

The company also sold 58 units of its CR-V Sports Utility Vehicle in April 2013 apart from exporting 182 units.

"April 2013 was a significant landmark in Honda's journey in India. With new investments in Tapukar plant, launch of advanced i-DTEC diesel engine technology, and rollout of new family sedan Amaze, Honda has set on a new phase of growth in the country."

Speaking on the Honda Amaze sales, HCIL's senior vice president Jnaneswar Sen said, "Amaze has received tremendous response from the customers despite the slowdown in the industry. We are confident that Amaze will drive our growth in this fiscal."

(Also read: Honda Amaze sedan to see a price hike soon?)

While Amaze succeeded in finding ready takers almost as soon as it was launched, the saloon offering from rival carmaker Maruti has continued to march steadily ahead too. Maruti's entry-level hatch Alto still retains the top spot, but at 19,446 units sold, the DZire fell a mere 400 units short of topping the monthly sales chart.

It was for the first time that a sedan-- and not a smaller car-- took as high as the second spot in the overall sales chart for a single month.

Raja answers Arun Jaitley, says third front very much a practicable idea

2013-05-23 21:24:00

Bangalore: CPI leader D Raja said on Thursday said that Left parties are sounding out regional and centrist outfits to work out pre-poll seat adjustments for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to project a non-UPA and non-NDA alternative to the people. He, in this regard, rebutted senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley's suggestions that the concept of the third front is a failed one.

"We are in touch with regional parties and centrist forces," the CPI national secretary and Rajya Sabha member told reporters here, adding, based on "balance of political forces and specific situation" in states, tactical electoral lines would be evolved.

The Left parties would strive to bring together non-BJP ( NDA) and non-Congress ( UPA) forces and try to project and provide a viable alternative to the people, Raja said. Left parties would try to work out some electoral adjustments with regional parties and other centrist parties.

Raja, who was responding to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley's comment that the third front is a failed idea, said such an alternative is quite possible.

He also termed the four years in office of UPA-2 as a "failure". "There is nothing to celebrate," Raja said. "The Congress-led UPA-2 has mismanaged the economy, with growth declining in industrial, manufacturing and services sectors," he added.

"Only corporates and big business houses have benefited during the last four years making huge profits, while common people were subjected to more and more economic hardships with subsidies being slashed," he further said.

"The country is shocked by scams one after other. Prime Minister and PMO stand accused and it has shattered their credibility. Credibility of the government stands thoroughly exposed," Raja claimed.

Drenched in blood, did the victim write name of the killer on wall?

2013-05-24 12:30:00

Ludhiana: Mother-daughter duo, residents of Fatehganj, was brutally murdered on Thursday. Shockingly, none of the neighbours could hear the screams of the duo. Usha Grover, 45 and her daughter Hina, 24, were murdered using sharp weapons at their residence.

The incident came to light only after 12 hours when the elder daughter of Usha Grover went to the house. It is suspected that some goons attacked the duo while they were at their residence with the motive of robbery.

Rs 4 lakh cash, gold and other expensive items were found missing from the house. According to reports, the police acted swiftly and DSP Harsh Bansal, ACP Nilambari Jagdale, ACP Ramneesh Chaudhary, Inspector BrijMohan, Inspector Gurudev Singh, Sanjiv Kapoor and the finger print expert team rushed to the spot.

ACP Nilambari Jagdale said that Usha lives with her younger daughter Hina alone after her elder daughter Gudiya got married. Usha Grover’s son Sunny is living in Australia since six years. He called up his sister Gudiya, who is married, to go and check as Usha wasn’t picking his calls.

Drenched in blood, the deceased Hina wrote ‘Baab’ with blood on the wall, which might help the police in investigation.

Police have filed a case and are investigating the case. A special team has been constituted for investigation.

Click the slides to see some shocking pictures…

Recipe: Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

2013-05-24 15:03:00

A mouth-watering Basmati rice and chicken preparation-- famous for its original Hyderabadi flavors. It is the most known Indian dish made throughout the world.

Easy to make and easier to eat. Try it yourself!

Ingredients:

· 1 kg Basmati Rice

· 1 cup Yogurt

· 2 Onions (sliced)

· 1 tsp Ginger- Garlic Paste

· 2 cups Ghee

· 1 Mint (bunch)

· 1½ kg Chicken Pieces

· 4 Cardamoms

· ½ tsp Saffron (soaked in milk)

· 4 Lemons

· Salt to taste

· 2-3 Green Chillies (Chopped)

· Red chilli powder

Recipe:

1. Half cook the rice with salted water in a pot and boil.

2. Mix the ginger- garlic paste, yogurt, red chilli powder in a bowl and turn it into a paste.

3. Marinate chicken with the paste and keep it aside for at least 30 minutes.

4. Once marinated, put it in a pan and cook without water.

5. Deep fry the onions in ghee in another pan till they are golden brown.

6. Add green chillies, lemon juice, cardamom and mint.

7. Mix it with the chicken.

8. In a ghee greased pan, add the marinated chicken on the bottom and top it off with the half cooked rice, repeat the layers again. Spread the saffron milk over it.

9. Cook it covered for 30 min.

Serve hot!

Revealed: Countries with the most beautiful women on earth

2013-05-24 15:26:00

Ladies you should never let your man visit certain countries alone. Why you ask? Well, because world’s most sensual and exotic looking women live here. We bring to you the countries which promise the most breath taking beauties.

Ford EcoSport crossover ready for facelift in 2016

2013-05-24 15:28:00

New Delhi: Even as SUV aficionados wait an endless wait for the EcoSport to hit Indian shores, the EcoSport crossover is already ready for what is being termed as its mid-career uplift-- in 2016.

The scheduled revamp has been officially named the vehicle's 'mid cycle action' (MCA) by Ford, and will come with added features depending on customer feedback to the existing model.

(Don't miss: Latest pictures of Ford EcoSport now doing the rounds)

The 2016 EcoSport Facelift might come with special value packs, a sports variant with a sportier-tuned suspension and bigger wheels, reports indiancarsbikes.

Rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and lane assist are features that might also be added, the report goes on to say.

After first being unveiled in India at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi, the vehicle has been showcased at various malls with high footfalls across India.

In a bid to familiarise possible Indian buyers with the car, the company also kickstarted an interactive promotional programme called Urban Discoveries.

A hundred participants chosen under the programme have been given the opportunity to take the vehicle across various destinations in India and provide user feedback in the end.

Bookings for the vehicle will begin June 5.

In pics: Check out latest images of the Ford EcoSport!

2013-05-24 15:50:00

New Delhi: Even as car enthusiasts continue to wait for the commercial launch of the Ford EcoSport, the vehicle's manufacturer has been busy running an extensive promotional campaign on social networking platforms.

The official Facebook page of Ford EcoSport, for example, has been keeping people posted on the Urban Discoveries, an interactive marketing programme that has brought teams from various cities in competition against each other as they drive around their cities and adjoining areas in an EcoSport.

The page is also being continuously with latest images of the vehicle taken at various locations across the country. Visit the slideshow to take a look at some of them.

Ford EcoSport: A compact SUV that\'s big on style and power!

2013-05-24 18:28:00

New Delhi: Rarely has a car made buyers in India wait for its launch as the Ford EcoSport has. The compact SUV was first unveiled in the country at the Delhi Auto Expo and hasn’t seen its commercial almost two years since.

True, the soft launch of the compact SUV at various popular malls in India managed to appease those who could get a glimpse, and there is also the highly interactive Urban Discoveries campaign which is currently underway. But both the promotional campaigns have remained fairly restricted in their reach, rendering the aam junta increasingly fidgety and even forcing many to simply settle for another, less unattainable-looking option such as the Renault Duster!

Nevertheless, there are countless others who are ready to wait some more, because the vehicle simply looks worth waiting for. Reviewers across auto blogs, magazines and channels have mostly given the EcoSport positive response, but is the vehicle indeed such a joy to behold and a delight to drive as so many have been claiming? We find out in our review of the car.

We begin with the exteriors, of course. Visit the next slide to know more…

CBSE class 10 results 2013 to be out after class 12 results on May 28

2013-05-25 00:01:00

CBSE will declare results of Senior School Certificate Examination 2013(Class XII) of the Board on 27th May, 2013 at 10:00 AM.

CBSE has made special arrangements for quick access of results by individuals as well as schools through the following modes:

RESULTS ON NET

As per previous years, this year also the CBSE is hosting its results with the technical support of National Informatics Centre (NIC), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India on net. The schools can get entire school's results by giving their school code and email-id by registering themselves on which result is required on the following websites:

www.results.nic.in

www.cbseresults.nic.in

www.cbse.nic.in

RESULTS THROUGH IVRS (INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM)

Rates for IVRS per roll no. will be Rs. 0.30 per minute.

As per previous years, with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India, Board would be disseminating its results through IVRS also. The telephone numbers of NIC and other organization through which results can be had through IVRS are as follows:-

National Informatics Centre:

TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)	AREA COVERED
24300699	- for local subscribers in Delhi
011 – 24300699	- for subscribers in other parts of the country

(b) MTNL :

TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)	Area Covered
28127030	for local subscribers in Delhi
011 -28127030	for subscribers in other parts of the country

TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)	Covered Operators
5432128	for MTS subscribers
1255536	for BSNL subscribers (Outside Delhi – Landline & Mobile)
54321223	for Tata Teleservice (Indicom, Docomo) subscribers
5207011	for Airtel subscribers

RESULTS THROUGH SMS (SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE)

Rates for SMS for registration & communication of result per roll no. will be Rs.1.00 (One Rupee only)

SMS	Covered Operators
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 543216	MTS
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 57766	BSNL
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 54321, 51234,5333300	Tata Teleservice (Indicom, Docomo)
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 5800001	Aircel
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 5207011	Airtel
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 9212357123	NIC
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 50000	Vodafone
cbse12 rollno Send SMS to 57272	Jagran

Samsung new ad depicting men as Neanderthal sparks debate

2013-05-25 03:24:00

London: A new Samsung advertisement has become a point of major debate between the two sexes.

The advertisement is based on brand's evolutionary kit- which can turn any television into an internet-ready smart tv.

The advertisement has come under criticism for its portrayal of men. The advertisement showcases men as useless, loutish Neanderthals and women with pushovers who put up with such behaviour.

The advertisement has been termed as 'offensive', 'men-hater', and 'feminist' by its critics.

'The advert shows a wife plugging an Evolution Kit into her Samsung TV, then imagining how such a piece of equipment might turn her filthy, lazy, chicken drumstick-gnawing layabout of a husband into a high-functioning human', quoted Daily Mail.

She then envisages her husband making breakfast, ironing and cleaning kitchen.

The woman comes out of her day dream to find her husband on the sofa watching television.

The advertisement has become a huge hit on video-sharing website, YouTube.

The video has been viewed over 10 million times.

Mixed reactions have poured in response of the new advertisement.

I'd say it's both stereotyping and sexist. Bad Samsung, shame on you, said one of the viewer.

This is sexist. If women think this is funny they should remember that when stereotypes are used to make women look stupid for entertainment and they start crying "sexism", read another comment.

However, most of the viewers dismissed the ad as funny and harmless.

How ridiculous....................that people are actually offended by this. Get a life, read one of the comments.

Oh come on, it's to advertise "evolution" and it is quietly amusing. It is not a social commentary on modern man. Fhs, get a grip! Concluded another reader.

BFF: The dog and lion pair that has been living together for past 5 yrs

2013-05-25 04:19:00

Oklahoma: A lion and sausage dog developed a one of a kind friendship in a zoo in Oklahoma, US. The five-year old male lion has become one of the closest friends of the seven-year old Dachshund.

The lion, named Bonediggger is suffering from disability that has left him crippled. Milo took the lion in his protection after he sensed that the lion is suffering.

The bond has become stronger with each passing day. So much so, the dog even helps the king of the jungle clean his teeth.

According to a news report publsihed in Daily Mail, the two friends have been living happily for the past five years in GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

The friends eat, cuddle and feast on raw meat together. The zoo owner describes it as a one of its kind relationship one would ever see.

The lion is not friendly with other dogs but his friendship with Milo has never turned sour.

The dog even tries to imitate the lion. He would unsuccessfully try to copy Bondeigger's puffing, a sound made by lions to communicate with other lions.

To read more on that click here.

5 weirdest questions that women ask gynaecologists

2013-05-25 10:55:00

Women may be a big mystery for men, but the biggest mystery for women is their own body!

Often women get freakishly inquisitive and when peers fail to answer, their gynaecologists end up taking the fall. Troubling doubts rarely come out of their mouths but when they do- doctors are left bowled over!

Have a look at the 5 wackiest questions that women ask their Gynaecologists:

School principal accused of holding hand of a girl student, dragging her to the blackboard

2013-05-25 12:05:00

Salhawas: The principal of a Government Senior Secondary School in Sehlang is accused of misbehaving with a girl of 11th standard in the school. According to the girl, the principal, Jalvir Singh, held her hand and dragged her to the blackboard. The principal also used abusive language while talking to her, she said.

However, the school administration has been trying to hush up the matter, the villagers demanded resignation of the principal. The villagers gave time till Saturday to the education department for resolving the matter.

After the incident came to light, the parents of the student reached the school for Panchayat, however, they did not disturb any of the classes and the meeting took place silently in computer laboratory. Block Education Officer (BEO) Virendra Saangwan and Block Education Extension Officer Omprakash Dhankhad were also present at the meeting.

Apart from this issue, the matter of the induction of members in the school management committee whose children do not study in the same school was also put forward. Amidst the accusations, the 54-year-old principal refuted all the allegations, saying that he held the student’s hand but she misunderstood.

As part of the investigations, various students were questioned about what they thought about their principal’s character. Most of the students said that he was rude to students.

Boris Johnson asks rapper Will Smith to put his rap for Queen’s jubilee to music!

2013-05-25 13:22:00

An embattled UK Prime Minister David Cameron is set to use London Mayor Boris Johnson as a secret weapon in the next general elections. Johnson has also agreed to play the ‘frontman’ in the campaign and is also expected to hold rallies across the country.

Amidst this, at an event, Johnson revealed that he has written a rap for Queen’s silver jubilee. The London Mayor, who met Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith at a celebration for Johnson’s Leadership Clubs, asked for help from the father-son duo to help him put the rap to music.

Johnson’s Leadership Clubs offers extracurricular activities for 10 to 14-year-olds. Will and Jaden Smith were the surprise guests there for the children.

The trio seemed to have enjoyed the time they spent together with the children. Jaden Smith also sang for the group of children. Besides entertaining the children; Boris, Will and Jaden also took part in some of the activities, including giving advice on staying out of trouble.

According to The Daily Mail, “Allies of the Prime Minister recognise that they have to turn to the most popular figure in their party if they are to have any chance of winning a majority. Cameron has already hired strategist Lynton Crosby, who masterminded Johnson’s two mayoral election victories, to help run the campaign in 2015.” To read full report, click here…

OMG: Is Sakshi Dhoni embarrassing hubby MSD?

2013-05-25 14:02:00

She might be the most envied star wife, but looks like Sakshi Dhoni hasn't been able to impress the fans of her cricketer husband, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. And, that's thanks to some of her unflattering pictures on social networking sites.

Eight people across Punjab, Haryana died due to scorching heat

2013-05-25 15:13:00

Chandigarh: The ongoing heat wave conditions in most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Saturday continued unabated, claiming at least eight lives and forcing people in the region to confine indoors.

While six persons lost their lives due to intense heat wave in Punjab, two died in Haryana in the past three days, officials said here on Saturday. In Punjab, three persons lost their lives in Amritsar, two in Ferozepur and one in Tarn Taran, whereas in Haryana one each died in Hisar and Sirsa.

All the eight deaths took place due to heat wave, officials said. According to the Met office here, there are no chances of relief from heat wave in the next couple of days.

The Met forecast that the maximum temperature will hover between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius at most of the places in the region. Warm winds will also sweep the region and dust storms might strike in some areas, the Met office said, attributing the unusually high temperature in the region to the absence of western disturbances.

Chandigarh is braving a hot of 43 degrees Celsius, the Met said here. In the wake of the intense heat wave, most of the markets in the region have been wearing a deserted look in the afternoons.

The day temperature of the region, which is likely to hover between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius, will exactly be known towards the evening. Meanwhile, frequent interruption of power supply and low pressure of water added to the woes of the people in the region.

Due to torrid heat conditions, water levels in most of the rivers, including Beas, Ravi and Sutlej had sharply fallen down, officials said.

The water level of Bhakra Dam had come down to 1563.72 foot and that of Pong Dam to 1309.59 foot, they said, adding that the fall in the levels of water is up to ten foots in both the dams.

In most parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, Hisar and Amritsar have been facing the hottest days in the past decade in the month of May, officials said.

Living on fruits of love!

2013-05-25 19:17:00

Feeling stressed? Take a break and read these hilarious jokes to uplift your mood.

He's the real hero! Youth marries 22-year-old gang-rape victim from Bihar

2013-05-25 19:46:00

Patna: As the saying goes, true love is a sacred flame and come what may, those in such a relationship find no situation too adverse to carry it on. Indeed it is a feeling which involves fullest commitment of the partners to each other.

A youth from Banka district in Bihar seems to have found such true love in his female friend, a gang-rape victim, whom he has married, notwithstanding the social stigma surrounding such victims.

The wedding was solemnised at the temple in the presence of dozens of people on Friday, four days after the 22-year-old was gang-raped and her friend was beaten up.

"I accept her as my life partner. I know she was gang-raped a few days ago. The incident occurred in my presence," a media report quotes the bridegroom, who is an engineering student, as saying.

The father of the victim was present at the ceremony and gave his daughter away in the traditional ceremony, called 'kanyadaan'.

Before their marriage in the temple, they married in the court on the basis of an affidavit.

Early this week, when the woman and her friend were on a trip to Banka's Mandar Parvat, they asked a group of shepherds for directions. They were allegedly taken to a secluded spot and held hostage for three hours. The woman was gang-raped by three persons, while her friend was brutally beaten.

Mandar Parvat is a small hill frequented by pilgrims, who believe that this is the mountain referred to in Hindu mythology as Mandarachal Parvat, the mountain used by the gods to churn the ocean in the "samudra manthan" to obtain the elixir that would grant immortality.

Sedition case against Azam Khan: Court trashes closure report, orders further probe

2013-05-25 21:31:00

Badaun: The closure report filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police in a case of sedition against state minister Azam Khan was rejected by a local court on Saturday. The court ordered further probe into the matter, while stating that the final report was ‘untrue’.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Arvind Kumar rejected the report on Friday saying it was "found to be untrue" and directed the Kotwali police station in-charge to conduct further probe.

It has been alleged that Azam, during his visit to Budaun to take part in an agitation on December 21, 2010, had said that Ghulam Nabi Azad was the lone Muslim minister in Manmohan Singh government and he was from Kashmir, "about which it was not clear whether it was a part of India or Pakistan."

Following a court order, police lodged an FIR against Khan and booked him on the charge of sedition.

Bajrang Dal leader Ujjwal Gupta had approached the court on the issue.

According to court sources, the police had given a clean chit to Khan and filed a final report in the case, but Gupta on January 8 moved an application in the court requesting for its rejection.

Gupta claimed that the police in its report had stated that the case was "politically motivated" and the original copy of the CD containing Khan's statement was not provided by him. He contested that the statement was recorded by the media and the police should obtain the original copy of the CD from it.

(with PTI inputs)

Sonepat rape: 1 gets 10-yr RI, 3 others walk free for raping BPS Women University student

2013-05-25 21:51:00

Chandigarh: A Sirsa court on Friday awarded 10-year-rigorous imprisonment (RI) to an accused in the abduction and rape of a Bhagat Phool Singh Women University student. The verdict came a year after a first-year law student of BPS Women University, Khanpur Kalan, was abducted and raped by four persons. The accused was also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 by the local court.

The convict has been identified as Amit alias Mita, a resident of Khanpur Kalan of Sonepat district, while the other three accused - Jaipal, Bhupinder Mudlana, Vinod alias Viky (all in early 20s) - were let off due to lack of evidence.

As per details, the 18-year-old victim was abducted by the four accused from the university gate on May 16, 2012, said reports.

The court also sentenced the convict to four-year imprisonment for abduction. The punishment will run concurrently.

The victim, a native of a village near New Delhi alleged that she was raped by Amit and his friends and dumped outside the varsity campus. The key accused, Amit, used to run the hostel mess on the BPS university campus.

Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir: Successful Inter-community marriages

2013-05-26 00:00:00

There are many bollywood stars that have broken the norm and married people out of their own community. Not only male celebrities but our very own actresses are also part of it. From Aamir Khan to Hrithik Roshan and King Khan ShahRukh, the actors took the road less travelled by. These celebrity couples did not let their religion or cultural differences come in the way of love and passion.

Meet the handsome Bollywood studs who took a solid leap, and made their marriages work despite cultutral and linguistic differences.

CBSE class 12 results 2013 tomorrow at 10 am

2013-05-26 00:01:00

It has been confirmed that the CBSE class 12 result 2013 will be declared on 27 May, 2013 at 10 am.

You can check your result on the following websites:

www.ExamResults.net

http://CBSE.ExamResults.net/

After a lot of speculation and guess work by the media and students, this is the supposed to be the final date for the declaration of the class 12 board exams results conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from 1 March to 17 April, 2013.

Bangalore: Depression claims another life, techi kills self and 7-yr-old daughter

2013-04-27 21:53:00

Bangalore: A 35-yr-old Software engineer killed himself before giving an overdose of sleeping pills to his 7-yr-old daughters.

Aravind Reddy worked in a multi-national company in Singapore and lives in upscale JP Nagar. Police has not been able to ascertain the exact reason for the death.

The police found him gagged with cloths and towels and tied his hands behind his back with plastic tags.

The father-daughter duo had checked in the Resort. The hotel staff got suspicious after they did not receive any response even after repeated knocks on the door and broke open the door.

The staff found two dead bodies along with a note claiming that nobody is responsible for the death.

Aravind was depressed after the death of his wife two-years-ago. According to his relatives, Aravind never got over the death of his wife, reported Times of India.

The police officers investigating the case said that he gagged himself to avoid the noise to be heard by the resort.

Police is waiting for the post mortem report to know the exact cause of the death.

OMG: Beyoncé reveals more than required

2013-05-08 15:31:00

Beyoncé Knowles looked walked the red carpet at the Met Gala 2013 recently wearing a black and gold Givenchy Haute Couture gown as a honorary chair member, a high honor in the fashion industry. Though Beyoncé’s look did not quite go well with the theme –‘Punk’, her matching boots and skirt were dramatic enough.

Beyoncé’s strapless black and golden fire emblazoned gown was paired with black satin elbow gloves. Even though the star managed her lengthy trail very well, she was quoted as saying that her corset was too tight and that she would have to cut the string later to get out of it. The gown had a thigh high slit, enhancing her curvy silhouette.

The entire look complimented and flattered her skin tone and golden tresses.

Click to see more pictures of the curvaceous singer.

Photo Courtesy: Reuters

Money matters: 5 common insurance myths busted

2013-05-14 16:56:00

The author, Deepak Yohannan, is CEO of MyInsuranceClub.com, a price and features comparison website for insurance products in India. For related queries, write to him at deepak@myinsuranceclub.com

How many times have you purchased an insurance policy just because you thought you had to and how many times have you declined a policy just because someone told you it’s not a good idea to buy it? Unfortunately, everyday people commit insurance blunders because of the myths associated with insurance.

While it is definitely wise and even advisable to buy insurance, you need not make decisions based on what others say or do. It is important to remember that insurance policies are very specific products. Something that your friend finds useful, may not suit you and vice-versa.

So you need to analyze the policies before you buy them, in a neutral and unbiased manner, keeping the myths far away.

The most common insurance myths are:

1. Employer’s cover is enough – Many people are insured by their employers. While this is good and comprehensive, you should not blindly rely on it. In other words this means that along with your company cover, it would be wise to consider other policies too. This will protect you from circumstances such as retirement, sudden loss of job and so on.

You can also consider taking a Top Up Health Plan with the base deductible upto your coverage amount. This would be a great and cheap option to you as well.

2. Sick people can’t buy insurance – One of the biggest insurance myths is that you cannot buy a health insurance policy if you are sick or have a long term, recurring medical condition. Yes, it will be more difficult than normal to find policies, but if you look, you will find plenty.

For example there are plans for the diabetic, other pre-existing diseases, etc. in the industry as well.

3. Once bought, forget about the policy – Many people believe that an insurance policy requires no review or maintenance. This is another very common insurance myth. An insurance policy literally needs to be looked after. Not only do you have to pay the premiums on time, you have to review it from time to time.

Review the policy in accordance with your life situations and you may see that at different points of time, you will need different kinds of alterations to the policy. So never buy a policy and forget about it.

Golden temple's underground entrance plaza to open this Diwali

2013-05-22 16:48:00

Amritsar: Golden Temple underground entrance plaza will be open for the pilgrims at this Diwali.

According to reports, Rakesh Singh, Punjab chief secretary who visited Amritsar to take a look of the undergoing work at the temple premises.

Around 70 per cent work has been completed so far.

He also visited Gobindgarh fort and said that the it will be open for the general public on World Tourism Day in September.

India\'s DZire for sedans grows as Maruti\'s entry-level saloon closes in on market leader Alto

2013-05-23 11:52:00

New Delhi: Most of us saw it coming, but the day is finally here when even the numbers confirm the fact that the average Indian is no longer exclusively a small car lover.

We say this because as per latest reports, Maruti Suzuki's DZire has pipped the manufacturer's premium hatchback Swift in terms of overall sales for the first time ever in April 2013.

Maruti's entry-level hatch Alto still retains the top spot, but at 19,446 units sold, the DZire fell a mere 400 units short of topping the monthly sales chart.

The latest data comes in at an interesting point in time-- while the DZire has notched steadily impressive numbers for its maker since its launch in 2008 (about 10,000 per month), a recently-launched rival offering from the stable of Honda is registering sales even more impressive than the DZire's.

Further, it's not just the saloon among larger vehicles that seems to have caught the Indian car buyer's fancy. In an industry beset with multiple challenges such as sluggish sales, high fuel prices and production glitches, the year gone by saw the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment grow by 52 per cent over the previous 12-month-period. The segment was, in fact, the only one to have registered positive growth.

Life threw punches at him but this boxer refused to be knocked out

2013-05-23 14:20:00

Chandigarh: Mandeep Jangra is a proud man. He has won a gold medal in the International Limassol Boxing Cup tournament in Cyprus. In 69 category Mandeep thrashed Vega Blang of Spain 21-2 in the final encounter to clinch the yellow metal. The success is more rewarding because once he was forced to say goodbye to the sports. But thanks to a man, he is not only back in the game, but punching and punching very hard.

He won the gold medal on his 20th birthday on Monday. During all these years, life has punched him numerous times, but he refused to be knocked out and continued following his dream. In his quest for gold, a senior boxer played the role of his benefactor, extending moral and financial support.

Now his winning the gold medal in the international boxing cup tournament proves that he has lived up to the expectations bestowed upon him.

Mandeep comes from a poor family. His father worked as chief mason, earning barely enough to feed the family. He was in position to pay his diet.

Mandeep took up boxing as sports in 2004. He started training but did not inform his family members. When he won a medal at district level, only then his family members came to know about his indulgence in the boxing. Parents really got angry, even thrashed him to give up his passion and help family make two hands meet. But he was determined to fight his war and win gold for the country.

Secret to radiant skin revealed

2013-05-23 18:28:00

Pond’s, the pioneer in face care with over 160 years of face care expertise, introduces the revolutionary Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream. The first of its kind innovative beauty solutions from the Pond’s white beauty portfolio combines the dual benefit of instant coverage of spots as well as lightening skin within to help reveal perfect natural look. Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream with SPF 30 PA++ and GenWhite TM cover formula provides natural coverage suited for Indian skin that conceals spot instantly while working from deep within epidermis to lighten stubborn spots for all day instant spot-less radiant skin.

The evolution of BB cream

BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm cream, was originally formulated in the 1950s by German dermatologist, Dr. Christine Schrammek, to protect and provide natural light coverage for patients’ sensitive skin, who had just undergone laser treatments and surgery. Recently, it was introduced in South Korea and Japan and it has been named “the secret of Korean actresses” for their fair and flawless skin.

The science behind Pond’s white beauty ™ BB+ fairness cream

With the Pond’s Institute’s dual-acting sophisticated skin lightening GenWhite™ Cover Formula and SPF 30 PA++ advanced sunscreen protection, Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream not only improves skin texture and effectively lightens skin from within but also provides Natural looking instant glow for Indian skin.

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