Manikarnika’ Jaya Prada contemplated suicide on link up rumours with Amar Singh?

Jaya Prada Screenshot/ABN Telugu
Actress-turned-politician Jaya Prada might have had a successful ride in the film industry but things were not that smooth for the actress in the political sphere.
The 56-year-old actress opened up about contesting elections and her link-up rumours with minister Amar Singh.
Talking at the Queensline Literature Festival with author Ram Kamal, Jaya Prada talked about the time when she was being threatened of an acid attack. She recalled that upon leaving home during that phase, she wasn’t sure whether she would come back or not. “Because the state I was in, contesting elections with Azam Khan, as a woman, with acid attack threats, threat to my life… I couldn’t even tell my mother if I would come back alive whenever I left from home,” she told PTI.
Talking about how she considers Amar Singh her mentor and Godfather but people gave it a different name, Jaya Prada said, “Only Amar Singh ji, who came out of his dialysis, stood next to me, supported me. What will you think of him? Godfather or someone else? Even if I tie rakhi to him, will people stop talking? I don’t care what people say.”
Jaya Prada recalled the phase when her morphed images prompted link-up rumours with Amar Singh and the subsequent threats to her life forced her to contemplate suicide.
“Amar Singh was on dialysis and my morphed pictures were being circulated in the region. I was crying and saying I don’t want to live anymore, I want to commit suicide. I was going through that trauma and no one supported me,” Prada said.
Jaya Prada, who has been a well-known name in the film industry as well as the political spectrum, said she doesn’t feel any less than Manikarnika. She said that being a woman in a male-dominated sphere is tough and for her, the journey has not been an easy ride either.

US thaws from Arctic deep freeze as death toll climbs

Blocks of ice crunched down the river that runs through downtown Chicago, the Niagra Falls turned to solid ice in places, and half the Great Lakes were covered in ice.
CHICAGO: An Arctic air mass blamed for the deaths of more than 20 people in the US began moving out to sea Friday, easing its grip on about a dozen states that have endured days of record-breaking cold.

And in an extreme but mostly welcome swing in the weather, forecasters were predicting that this week’s deep freeze will be replaced by almost spring-like temperatures by the weekend.

The so-called polar vortex that descended on the US Midwest and Northeast will go down in memory for its scenes of winter at its most bitter.

Blocks of ice crunched down the river that runs through downtown Chicago, the Niagra Falls turned to solid ice in places, and half the Great Lakes were covered in ice.

US media reported as many as 21 weather-related deaths since a snow-storm hit the Midwest early in the week, followed by plunging temperatures Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperature readings were nosing up on Friday and “will continue to moderate,” the National Weather Service said.

Now, though, the concern is the threat of flooding and further stress on already strained infrastructure as the region thaws out.

Blocks of ice crunched down the river that runs through downtown Chicago, the Niagra Falls turned to solid ice in places, and half the Great Lakes were covered in ice.

US media reported as many as 21 weather-related deaths since a snow-storm hit the Midwest early in the week, followed by plunging temperatures Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperature readings were nosing up on Friday and “will continue to moderate,” the National Weather Service said.

Now, though, the concern is the threat of flooding and further stress on already strained infrastructure as the region thaws out.

“In done areas of the Midwest, the coming wild temperature swing will be the most extreme warm-up from record winter cold ever seen in such a short time period,” Jeff Masters, meteorologist at the firm Weather Underground, told AFP.

– Hundreds of new records – The Arctic air mass that veered off its normal polar route broke more than 340 records in communities across a cluster of states, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.

With wind chill factored in, temperatures dropped to as low as -64 degrees Fahrenheit (-53C) in Minnesota, -59F (-51C) in Wisconsin, -58F (-58C) in Iowa and -55F (-48C) in Illinois.

By Monday, the weather was expected to be comparably balmy — around 50F in Chicago and Detroit.

“It’s important to remember that the rapid change in weather and snow melt could lead to dangerous flooding,” James Joseph, the regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said in a statement.

In the region around Niagara Falls, officials worried that ice jams could raise water levels in the Upper Niagara River, according to local TV station WIVB.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said they were also working “to avert possible creek flooding once thaw comes.”

In Detroit and Chicago, which have already contended with dozens of broken water mains over the last several days, more pipes could burst as rapid warming puts pressure on aging systems.

– Death toll rises – Hypothermia and frostbiteproved to be major dangers.

The University of Iowa confirmed that among the dead was Gerald Belz, a pre-med student who died January 30. Local media reported that the 18-year-old was found unconscious outside a university building when temperatures were in the negative double digits in Iowa City.

A 38-year-old Wisconsin woman was found frozen Wednesday night in an unheated home, and a man froze to death in his back yard Thursday afternoon, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Leopard Cub Smuggled From Bangkok To Chennai. Watch Airport Staff Feed It

A passenger tried to smuggle the leopard cub from Thailand’s capital Bangkok this morning in his baggage.

Chennai: 

A leopard cub wrapped in a blanket and being fed using a bottle – a visual one would imagine in a zoo. But today, one such video emerged from the Chennai airport.
A passenger tried to smuggle the leopard cub from Thailand’s capital Bangkok this morning in his baggage. Clearly, he did not make it past security and was arrested.
The leopard cub, hungry, was fed milk by the airport staff. A video released by news agency ANI shows one holding the cub wearing yellow latex gloves while another trying to feed it.
The cub was later moved by wildlife officials to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, about 15 kilometers from Chennai airport

PM Modi targets Opposition at Bengal rally; Mamata says ‘your time is up’

PM Modi hit out at the opposition parties as they attempt to put up a united front against the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fresh attack on the opposition parties over their attempt to present a united front against the BJP-led NDA government in the upcoming Lok Sabha election saying “they are scared” because “I am fighting corruption”. But minutes later, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot back at PM Modi saying his tenure will end in a month but he “doesn’t seem mentally prepared to go.”
Referring to opposition parties’ rally in Kolkata last month, PM Modi said, “This chaiwala has stopped the illegal income of the high and mighty…This is why all kinds of people were taking vows in Kolkata to remove this chowkidar.”
“Look at their photographs…They look so scared,” PM Modi said taking a dig at the opposition leaders, who had attended the United India rally organised by Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in January.
He said, “Those who did not even see each other four years ago assembled in Kolkata… They are abusing me because I am working against corruption.” On January 19, the TMC had organised a rally in Kolkata where leaders of 24 parties including the Congress shared the stage with Banerjee.
Responding to PM Modi’s charge, Banerjee said, “In true fascist style, he is trying to encircle everyone with agencies…The Union government will last for a month at the most. But it seems he is not mentally prepared for going out of power.”
The prime minister attacked Mamata Banerjee accusing her of preventing the officials of central government agencies from carrying out probe in West Bengal.
“Didi, if you have not done anything wrong, why are you scared. What is that you are afraid of,” said PM Modi adding he was made to “sit for nine hours in Delhi” during the UPA rule when the CBI probe cases against him when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
“I never attacked agencies…I said you can bring more agencies to probe cases against me…I am honest. I am not scared…But they are so scared that they don’t want the BJP president to land in West Bengal,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi targeted Banerjee saying people of West Bengal have to pay “Trinamool Tolabaji Tax” for college admission and recruitment of teachers as there is a “syndicate raj” in the state
At his second public rally of the day in West Bengal, PM Modi accused the Mamata Banerjee government of withdrawing from the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme of the central government for “political reasons.”
“The poor were getting benefits from Ayushman Bharat…Didi lost her sleep as she feared what will happen to her if every ailing person would get treatment and chant Modi-Modi,” he said.
“Such a heartless governmnt must not stay in power any longer,” PM Modi said adding, “her exit is certain”.
The prime minister also made a strong defence of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) scheme introduced in the interim budget amid criticism by the opposition. PM Modi said the BJP-led government introduced “the biggest ever scheme for the benefit of the farmers without doing any drama like the Congress did in 2008.”
“PM Kisan is a Rs 75,000 crore scheme. We could have done the drama of loan waiver like the Congress…But we have brought a permanent scheme…This is not a one-time scheme…It will stay with the farmers for years,” he said.
The prime minister said, “The Congress brings loan waiver every ten years… They came up with a Rs 52,000 crore loan waiver scheme 10 years ago. Our scheme will offer Rs 7.50 lakh crore to farmers in the next years. Their scheme was aimed at benefitting 2-3 crore farmers while ours will benefit 12 crore. Isn’t it a bigger scheme?”
Earlier, PM Modi addressed a rally at Thakurnagar in 24 North Parganas district in an apparent attempt to reach out to influential Matua community, which originally hails from Bangladesh and migrated to West Bengal during 1950s following religious persecution in that country.

Interim Budget 2019 biggest achievement since independence, says Amit Shah, Ram mandir next

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday spoke about the Interim Budget which was announced on Friday (February 1) as well as Rahul Gandhi’s reaction to it at the rally in Uttarakhand. Amit Shah also said, “Rahul Gandhi should clear his stand on Ayodhya. I can say without doubt that Ram Mandir will be built there.”

BJP party president Amit Shah on Saturday addressed a rally in Uttarakhand. He spoke about the Interim Budget which was announced on Friday as well as Rahul Gandhi’s reaction to it. He also talked about what the BJP plans to do if it comes to power in the forthcoming general elections.
Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said at least three crore Indians would benefit from the new tax proposals in the government’s interim budget 2019.
Earlier, Amit Shah said the Budget has met the expectations of every section of society, including farmers, labourers and the middle class.

HERE ARE SOME POINTS TO TAKE FROM AMIT SHAH’S SPEECH:

Amit Shah said that delivering the Interim Budget has been the biggest achievement since India got freedom. He also said that since the budget was announced, the light went out of Rahul Gandhi’s face. “Budget ke baad vipaksh ke adhyaksh ke chehre se noor gayab ho hogaya tha [After the Budget was announced, the light on the Opposition leader’s face went out],” Amit Shah said.

Amit Shah said that the BJP gives anyone a chance to be the prime minister. “BJP ek gareeb se gareeb chai bechne wale ko prime minister banati hai [BJP makes even the poorest chaiwala the prime minister of the country],” while referring to PM Narendra Modi. He also praised PM Modi and said that he always keeps the bigger picture in mind while making decisions.

Amit Shah also said that the party derives its support from its workers.

Amit Shah talked about the Kedarnath yatra and promised that within one year when the devotees visit the holy place again, there will be a lot many facilities to make their pilgrimage easier.

Amit Shah highlighted the BJP’s achievements in the past years. He said that the party had started work on the all-weather road which is being built using the latest technology available.

Amit Shah also praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat for removing corruption in the state. “Uttarakhand Chief Minister ne bhrashtachar ko ukhad kar fenk diya [Uttarakhand CM has removed corruption from its roots],” Shah said.
He also said that for 10 years Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh held the government, adding that Rahul Gandhi should know that during their time, the Army went backwards instead of progressing to new heights.

Amit Shah praised the Modi government and said that it was during their government that positive changes were made. The defence has been made stronger by the budget allocated to the department, he said.

Amit Shah criticised the Congress and said that for 55 years the party was in power but failed to deliver the One Rank One Pension (OROP). It was the Modi government which delivered its promise, he said. He further mocked the Congress party and reiterated his previous statement that the party’s OROP stands for ‘Only Rahul, only Priyanka’.

India issues ‘demarche’ to American embassy on detention of Indian students in US

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday issued a demarche to the American Embassy here, expressing its concern over the detention of Indian students in the US, and sought immediate consular access to them.

The external affairs ministry said India continues to closely monitor and take proactive measures to address the situation arising out of the detention of several Indian students in connection with their enrolment in a “fraudulent university in the US”.

One-hundred-thirty foreign students arrested by US authorities for enroling at a fake university allegedly to remain in that country are largely Indians. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests on Wednesday.
Asked about the demarche issued by the external affairs ministry, a spokesperson from the American Embassy said, “We can confirm that the embassy received a demarche from the ministry of external affairs about the Indian citizens detained in the Unites States this week.”

The ministry underlined to the US Embassy that students, who may have been duped into enrolling in the ‘university’, should be treated differently from those recruiters who have duped them.
“We have urged the US side to share full details and regular updates of the students with the government, to release them from detention at the earliest and not to resort to deportation against their will,” the ministry said.

The India mission and consulates have visited several detention centres throughout the US to extend consular assistance to the detained students, the MEA said.
“So far, about 30 Indian students have been contacted by our consular officers. Efforts to contact the remaining Indian students are continuing,” it said.

The ministry said a 24/7 helpline has been established in the Indian Embassy in Washington for assistance/queries related to the detention of Indian students.

The helpline numbers are: +1-202-322-1190 and +1-202-340-2590 and email is: cons3.washington@mea.gov.in.

The ministry said the Indian government and the Indian Embassy and consulates in the US attach the highest priority to the welfare of the detained students and will continue to work with the American authorities and other stakeholders to address the issue.

Woman accused of buying winning lotto ticket with stolen credit card

Lottery tickets in Toronto, Canada
A winning lotto ticket in Canada will likely not be paid out because it was bought with a stolen credit card.
The woman who allegedly bought the ticket was arrested by police while on her way to the lottery offices.
Police were following up on a report of a stolen wallet and discovered the victim’s credit cards had been used to buy lottery tickets.
The suspect was identified with security footage from the Newfoundland store where the tickets were bought.
The 33-year-old suspect, who was taken into custody on Thursday by officers from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, was charged with two counts of possessing a stolen credit card and five counts of fraud.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation confirmed it was a C$50,000 ($38,000; £29,000) ticket but said that it only pays prizes for lawfully acquired tickets.
“Ultimately, if not paid, this amount will go to Atlantic Lottery’s unclaimed prize account and will be used for future prizes,” it said in a statement.
  • “We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Trump pushes Foxconn to clarify US plans

Mr Trump has repeatedly promoted Foxconn’s investment in Wisconsin
US President Donald Trump has intervened following news that Foxconn was adjusting the focus of its new factory in Wisconsin.
Foxconn had said it was considering a high-tech research hub for the site, earlier planned for making LCD panels.
That news was seen as a setback for Mr Trump, who has made reviving the manufacturing sector a priority.
But Foxconn said on Friday it would move forward with its planned construction of a plant.
The decision followed “productive discussions with the White House and the company” and a “personal conversation” between the president and Foxconn chairman Terry Gou, it said.
Mr Trump has repeatedly touted Foxconn’s investment in Wisconsin – a politically important state – as proof his economic policies are working.
He celebrated the statement on Twitter as “great news”.
Plans for a plant that produces smaller displays – reported last summer – already marked a step back from the original announcement.
On Friday, Foxconn did not go into detail about the plans for the plant or what kind of workers it intended to hire.
“This campus will serve both as an advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation for the region,” it said.
Foxconn had said earlier this week that it remained committed to its investment in Wisconsin, which had been celebrated for its potential to create up to 13,000 jobs.
It said it was adjusting its focus due to “new realities” in the global market environment and outlined plans to build a packaging plant; a high precision molding factory and an assembly facility, among other projects.

Controversy

The White House-backed project is controversial due to the billions in incentives approved for the company.
Even under optimistic projections, an analysis for Wisconsin state lawmakers found it would take more than 25 years for the state to break even on the deal.
Receipt of the incentives depends on the firm’s investment and hiring, which has already fallen short of early goals.
Local officials on Friday said they expected Foxconn to begin work on the manufacturing facility in the next 18 months.

Belgian ex-king Albert II refuses DNA test in love-child case

Delphine Boël is an artist and sculptor
The former king of Belgium, Albert II, has refused to undergo DNA testing in a case aimed at proving he fathered a love-child in the 1960s.
A Brussels court ordered the ex-monarch, 84, to provide a saliva sample in three months or risk being presumed to be the father of Delphine Boël, 50.
The ex-king denies the paternity claim and is said to be seeking legal advice on a possible appeal.
Ms Boël’s lawyers have welcomed the DNA request.
The former monarch announced his abdication in 2013, citing ill health. He stepped down on 21 July, Belgium’s national day.
  • He was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on 9 August 1993. His accession followed the death of his brother, King Baudouin, at the age of 62 years.

Ms Boël’s mother, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, says she had an affair with the king spanning two decades. The allegations emerged over a decade ago that he was the father of Ms Boël, causing a royal scandal.
There is some speculation in the media that this may have influenced his decision to abdicate.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.

Brazil dam: Startling pictures of Brumadinho collapse

The trail of destruction caused by the collapse spreads over an area equivalent to more than 100 football pitches
Dramatic pictures have emerged of the collapse of a dam in southern Brazil at an iron ore mine which left more than 300 people dead or missing.
The images, obtained by TV channel Bandeirantes, show the moment a muddy sludge engulfed the company canteen and neighbouring buildings in Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais state.
An investigation is under way.
The mine is owned by Vale SA. This is the second such incident at one of its mines in three years.
Five people have been arrested. Prosecutors in Brazil say three were Vale officials, whose responsibilities included dealing with environmental impact licences.
Vale, the world’s biggest producer of iron ore and nickel, said it was co-operating with prosecutors.
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The casualty figure as of Thursday evening was 110 confirmed dead and 238 missing.

How did the collapse happen?

A tailings dam at the mine failed at around 13:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on 25 January.
The resulting torrent of toxic sludge buried residential buildings, the mining plant’s cafeteria where hundreds of workers were believed to be eating, the administrative buildings and the loading terminal for trains.
Correspondents say the alarm system the company had installed to warn residents of any risk did not go off. Those who live nearby reported hearing a loud noise at the time of the collapse.
Dozens of trapped people, many of them covered in mud, had to be evacuated by helicopter as roads were destroyed.
Vale says the cause of the collapse is being investigated and that instruments used to measure dam pressure had not detected any problems.
The company’s president, Fabio Schvartsman, said the accident may have occurred too quickly for any alarm to be activated.

INTERACTIVEDam collapse in Brazil

29 January 2019

Satellite image of Brumadinho mine in Brazil 29 January 2019

24 January 2019

Satellite image of Brumadinho mine in Brazil 24 January 2019

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A state official told Reuters that all evidence suggested the dam burst was caused by liquefaction – a process by which a solid material such as sand loses strength and stiffness and turns to liquid.
The BBC’s Julia Carneiro says liquefaction was the cause of a separate dam collapse three years ago in Mariana, owned by a Vale subsidiary. Both structures are upstream dams, mostly built with dried mining waste or tailings, a mixture of sand and clay-like mud.
As hopes of finding anyone alive dwindle, thoughts are now turning to how to deal with the 12 million cubic metres of mud that was released.
The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Toxics, Baskut Tuncak, has called for an inquiry into the toxicity of the waste and urged the Brazilian government to take immediate precautionary measures.
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