1. Audio Pornography, 'Lady Oriented': Reasons Cited by CBFC to Stall Award-Winning Film
The censor board came under fire by the film fraternity on Friday for its decision to refuse certification to the award-winning film Lipstick Under My Burkha. The board had objected to alleged "audio pornography, sexual scenes and abusive words" in the film.
The decision was sharply criticised by prominent filmmakers and actors who described it as censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani's "arrogance".
Despite the scathing criticism, CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani said,
The film was first refused a certificate by the examining committee and after a show-cause was issued to the producer, they made an application to have it viewed by a revising committee...The idea of the film may be of women empowerment, but the depiction and presentation showcases obscenity and vulgarity. For instance, it has scenes of ‘phone sex’ and many explicit scenes for long durations at regular intervals. In keeping with the guidelines and keeping in mind the impact the film may have, it was unanimously refused.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. 'This President Has Blood on His Hands': Shooting of Indian Engineer in Kansas Triggers Anger
An Indian IT engineer employed with a US company in Kansas was fatally shot and a colleague – also from India – was wounded by a white man who allegedly thought they were from the Middle East and was heard telling them to “get out of my country” at the time of the shooting.
Adam Purinton was charged on Thursday with the fatal shooting of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounding Alok Madasani from Hyderabad and Warangal. He was also charged with wounding Ian Grillot, who tried to stop the shooter.
The FBI and local police are working to establish Purinton’s motive and whether the incident was a hate crime.
The Hindu American Foundation, an advocacy group, said in a statement,
The murder of Kuchibhotla is the first reported bias-motivated fatality in the US after the bitter presidential election.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. Kanpur Train Accident Was a Conspiracy From Across the Border: PM Modi in UP
Conspirators from “across the border” were responsible for a train derailment near Kanpur that killed 150 people and injured more than 200 last November, PM Narendra Modi said on Friday.
His remarks follow the arrest of four men in Nepal and Bihar this January, who had allegedly told police that the Pakistani spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), was behind the Kanpur accident – the worst train tragedy in the country in six years.
“It was a conspiracy and the conspirators carried it out sitting across the border,” he said at a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda, which votes on 27 February in the fifth round of the seven-phase assembly elections in the state.
A previous technical assessment available with the NIA shows the train was travelling at 106 kmph, but came to a complete halt within 14 seconds. Of the 23 coaches, seven derailed after its S-6 and S-7 compartments separated.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. At Militant Hotbed, Kashmiris Throng Martyred Soldier's Funeral
Thousands of people joined the funeral service of Lance Naik Mohiuddin Rather at a mosque at Punchpora village in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Friday – a sight rarely witnessed in chronicles of the Valley's troubled past.
Mohiuddin, 35, and two of his mates were killed in a militant ambush at Mulu Chitragam in Shopian district on Thursday when they were returning from an anti-terror operation near Kungnoo village. Two officers too were wounded in the attack.
When the Tricolour-draped body of Mohiuddin was brought in an Army vehicle to be handed over to his family members for the last rites, thousands of residents of Punchpora village poured out of their homes in a spontaneous gesture to pay their respects to the dead soldier and console the bereaved family.
Many even came from other villages for the nimaz-i-janazah (last prayers), which took place in the presence of top Rashtriya Rifles officers.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. PM Modi Unveils 112 Feet Shiva Statue, Extols Yoga
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to create a new yuga of togetherness and harmony through Yoga.
Unveiling the 112 feet tall bust of Adiyogi, the first yoga guru, consecrated by Isha Yoga Centre founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at the foothills of Velliangiri mountains in Coimbatore district on Friday, Modi said Yoga could be the panacea for lifestyle diseases, stress and addiction.
"Lifestyle related ailments, stress related diseases are becoming more and more common. It gives me immense sadness, one that I cannot describe in words, when I read about people taking to substance abuse and alcohol because they are not at peace with themselves," he said.
Modi even suggested that Yoga could be crucial for world peace.
The whole world wants peace, not just peace from wars and conflict but peace of the mind, and for that we have Yoga.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Deepa Jayakumar Launches Front to Contest Bypoll From Aunt Jayalalithaa's Seat
In a bid to stake claim to aunt and former AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa’s legacy, Deepa Jayakumar on Friday launched a new front called ‘MGR Amma Deepa Peravai’ as she is all set to jump into poll fray from Chennai’s RK Nagar.
This is the seat that has fallen vacant after the death of Jayalalithaa.
People continuously expressing interest in it (my contesting). I am definitely going to take that call and contest from RK Nagar. Amma Deepa Peravai is the platform we launch formally today.
When asked if it’s a political party, she said, “It’s a federation at this moment and I urge youth to support.”
She claimed she was sad at the ‘hijacking’ of the party and that Edappadi Palaniswami was not a popular choice for CM.
(Source: Indian Express)
7. US Can't Ignore India: Nasscom on Proposed H-1B Visa Curb
India’s apex IT industry lobby Nasscom has said the US just can’t afford to ignore India as it lacked the required skills.
The Nasscom made the observation amid diplomatic channels opening up in both the countries to discuss the issue of proposed curb on H-1B visa by the US and outsourcing work outside America by India.
The US grapples with the manpower challenges and faces serious STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) skill gap issues, said Shivendra Singh, vice president and head of global trade development, Nasscom.
Indian IT companies help the US in filling this gap, he said.
There is a challenge on the supply side in the US. As per US department of labour, there will be 2.4 million unskilled STEM jobs by 2018 – more than 50% in the computer and IT related area.
India is the biggest beneficiaries of H-1B visas in the world with about 58% (majority from US) of the total global outsourcing business coming to it.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. WhatsApp May Enter Digital Payments Segment: Co-Founder Brian Acton
WhatsApp has begun exploring entry into the highly-lucrative digital payments segment while building a system for “untapped“ commercial messaging, targeted at small and medium enterprises, the company's co-founder Brian Acton said on Friday.
“It’s (digital payments via WhatsApp) something where we are in early stages of inves tigating,“ Acton told TOI during his 36-hour trip to India which was limited to Delhi.
WhatsApp, which has notched up 200 million active users in India, it's largest market, is also targeting the business segment.
Commercial messaging is untapped for us. We could address that, especially in a country like India where so many existing users are businesses, but they don’t necessarily have a product that’s built for them.
(Source: The Times of India)
9. Discussions on for Listing Masood Azhar; Just Wait, Says Chinese Ambassador
Consultations to list Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in the UN sanctions list are in progress, Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said on Friday.
“The discussion is going on. I am so happy to see your foreign secretary in Beijing two days ago... discussing everything... so, just wait,” Luo told reporters on the sidelines of a Chinese visa application service centre inauguration ceremony in New Delhi.
China supports India and other countries on terrorism... The discussions are going on. It takes time.
India on Wednesday again asked China to declare Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar an international terrorist.
China had blocked a proposal by the US to add Azhar to the list of such terrorists, in addition to the three previous rejections in 2016 to the Indian proposal.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
More From The Quint
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)