Author: Samikhsya Bureau

(UNI) Theresa May has attacked one of her predecessors – accusing Tony Blair of “undermining” the Brexit talks by calling for another referendum.
She called his comments an “insult to the office he once held” and said MPs could not “abdicate responsibility” to deliver Brexit by holding a new poll, said a BBC News report.
Mr Blair said MPs might back a new vote if “none of the other options work”.
It comes after Labour MPs who support the idea met Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington to make their case.
About 10 MPs met Mr Lidington on Thursday to argue for another public vote and make it clear there was no other government plan they could support.
But many senior Labour figures are deeply uneasy about endorsing another referendum.

(UNI) The final of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup will be an all-European affair, with Belgium’s Red Lions facing the Netherlands after a thrilling day of semi-final action at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday. Belgium made a massive statement with a staggering 6-0 semi-final triumph over England in the first match of the day, while Australia’s hopes of winning a third successive World Cup title were ended by European champions the Netherlands, who emerged victorious in a shoot-out after a breathless contest finished with the scores locked together at 2-2.

Belgium– wearing black armbands in memory of Simon Gougnard’s father, who sadly passed away on Friday – were absolutely sensational against England, a team that had reached the semi-finals for the third World Cup in succession. The Red Lions themselves were aiming to reach a third major final in as many years, following the silver medals won at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the EuroHockey Championships 2017.

Striker Tom Boon gave Belgium the perfect start, getting ahead of his marker to deflect past England goalkeeper George Pinner in the eighth minute. That lead was almost doubled when Boon – later named Odisha Player of the Match – dived at full stretch to touch on a searching pass from Loick Luypaert onto the England cross-bar. Belgium took a 2-0 lead into half time thanks to the outstanding Gougnard, who pounced on a penalty corner rebound to smash into England’s net shortly before Sebastien Dockier wasted a brilliant chance from close range, failing to convert after some fine set-up play from Florent Van Aubel.

England – searching for their first World Cup final appearance since the Willesden 1986 event on home soil – came out firing in the third quarter, playing their best hockey of the match in a bid to drag themselves back into the contest. However, their hopes were cruelly dashed when Cedric Charlier’s blistering strike finished off a rapid counter-attack, leaving Danny Kerry’s team with a mountainous task to overcome.

A penalty corner double from Alexander Hendrickx – his sixth and seventh goals of a hugely productive World Cup – either side of the quarter-time break all but sealed a Belgian victory, with Sebastien Dockier firing a late sixth into the roof of Pinner’s net to complete an emphatic 6-0 triumph.

Speaking after the match, Belgium captain Thomas Briels said, “We worked really hard for this success. It was a big challenge. Especially after the Germany victory, we had a tough game and we wanted to be really ready for this challenge and I think we did a really good job today. It feels amazing to be in the final.”

“It was really our big goal to be in the last game of the tournament and hopefully we can do one more step and play even better than today. We really hope we can bring the Cup home. We have to recover first. It’s going to be another really tough game. But I think we still have the energy to deliver one more good performance,” he added.

The second semi-final was a replay of the World Cup final of 2014, with reigning champions Australia and the Netherlands taking to the field for what proved to be a truly epic encounter. The Kookaburras came into the game having just conceded once in their previous four games here in Bhubaneswar, but that all changed in one of the best games seen at the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018. After soaking up some early Australian pressure, the Netherlands took the lead when Jonas de Geus surged around the back of the Kookaburras’ defence before finding Glenn Schuurman who made no mistake from close range.

Seve van Ass made it 2-0 in the second quarter when his attempted cross was inadvertently deflected into the Australian net by Tim Howard, giving the Dutch some breathing space. Australia’s response was fierce, with Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak producing numerous high-quality blocks to keep the title holders off the score-sheet ahead of the half time break. The match continued to move from end-to-end at breakneck speed, with Australia pulling a goal back through Howard’s ferocious slap-shot from the top of the circle to give his team hope going into the final quarter. Blaak – later named Odisha Player of the Match – continued his sensational form in the fourth period by making further crucial saves, including a remarkable close-range block from Flynn Ogilvie who seemed almost certain to score. Australia’s equaliser arrived with just 26 seconds of the match remaining, and there was little Blaak could do about it. Eddie Ockenden was the scorer, brilliantly intercepting an aerial pass before eventually getting a first time shot towards goal, only for the unfortunate Schuurman to edge the ball through his goalkeeper’s legs to send the match to a shoot-out.

With both teams missing twice, the shoot-out score was locked at 3-3 and went to sudden-death. Jeroen Hertzberger made no mistake with the first of the sudden-death efforts, piling the pressure on Daniel Beale, who needed to score to keep Australian hopes alive.

However, it was Blaak and the Netherlands who would emerge triumphant, with the goalkeeper standing tall to make a superb stick save to put the Oranje into the World Cup final at the expense of the defending champions. Speaking after the match, Netherlands forward Jeroen Hertzberger – who scored twice in the shoot-out – said, “It was great. I think we deserve to win. We made it very hard for ourselves but at the end of the day we kept our focus and deserved to win the game. To be honest, the shoot-outs were obviously a bit nerve-breaking but there’s also something amazing about it.” “I had real confidence that we were going to win. I had so much confidence in our goalie even after we missed. Belgium are a good team obviously. It’s not for nothing that they are in the World Cup final and were in the Olympic final. We’re going to have to be even better than today and then I think we have a good chance to win,” he added. The medal matches will take place on Sunday, with England playing Australia for bronze at 1630 hours before Belgium and the Netherlands – who met in the final of the EuroHockey Championships 2017 – take to the field at 1900 hours for the chance to be crowned as champions of the world.

(UNI) PV Sindhu won BWF World Tour Finals title in the women’s singles category here on Sunday, becoming the first player from India to win the title.

She defeated Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-19, 21-17 in the 62 minutes summit-clash to clinch the elusive title that she had lost last year. This is also her first title of this year.

The sixth-ranked Sindhu has been in brilliant form all week. In semifinal, Rio Olympic silver medallist overcame Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

(UNI) Bhupesh Baghel has been chosen as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and the leader of Congress Legislative Party (CLP).

The Congress has come back to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years.

Bhupesh was chosen at the CLP meeting held on Sunday in the presence of party’s central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and state in-charge PL Punia. The envelop sent by the party high command was opened at the meeting, attended by the newly elected Congress legislators. The envelop contained the name of Baghel.

The CLP has formally chosen Baghel as its leader.

Bhupesh Baghel will be the third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and second CM from the Congress party.

The CLP meeting was also attended by other contenders for chief ministerial post-Dr Charandas Mahant, Tamradhwaj Sahu and TS Singhdeo

(UNI) The government machinery has been put on high alert to face the ‘Phethai’ Cyclone threat in Andhra Pradesh.

According to the Real Time Governance Society’s (RTGS) forecast, the ‘Phethai’ cyclone is likely to cross between Machilipatnam in Krishna district and Kakinada in East Godavari district.

‘Phethai’ lay centred at 550 KM from Sriharikota in Nellore district and moving towards coast with 15 kms speed. The RTGS and State Emergency Operations wing are in coordination with officials in various districts.

Officials said here on Sunday that 234 villages were identified in the coastal districts as vulnerable to be affected by the Cyclone. Special officers were appointed in various districts to monitor relief operations.

In Krishna district, 181 villages were identified as vulnerable to be affected by cyclone. There was rain at many places in Krishna district while cloudy and chilly weather prevailed across the Coastal Andhra Pradesh districts. Cyclone relief centres were set up in Narasapuram, Achanta and Mogalturu mandals in West Godavari district and special officials were deployed to monitor the operations.

The NDRF teams were also put on alert to swing into action, if needed. Cyclone control rooms were set up in all districts with 1100 phone number.

Officials in Guntur district said that 20 relief camps have been kept ready to shift people from low-lying areas, if necessary. They said that the villages located in Bapatla, Nizampatnam, Karlapalame and Repalle mandals were identified as venerable.

Minister for Municipal Administration P Narayana held teleconference with the officials in coastal AP districts today. He asked officials to take all precautionary measures to ensure that there is no loss of life and make arrangements to shift people living in low-lying areas to safer places if needed.

(UNI) With the death of two more women devotees on Sunday, the death toll in the temple ‘prasadam’ incident at Kicchugatti Maramma temple in Sulwadi village of Chamarajanagar district mounted to 13.

The deceased were identified as Salamma (35) and Mageswari (35).

Hospital sources said that the women were not responding to the treatment.

In all, 92 persons are still being treated in the various hospitals. As many as 29 people are still in serious condition and being treated in intensive care units.

As many as 11 people died and many were hospitalised on Friday after they consumed ‘prasadam’ in Kucchu Gudi Maramma temple.

The prasadam was distributed after the foundation laying ceremony of Maramma temple.

Chamarajanagara is one of most backward districts in Karnataka.

(UNI) Vijay Diwas was today celebrated with solemnity and military fanfare at Trishakti Corps here to commemorate the victory of Indian Army over Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

The event commenced with Lt Gen CP Mohanty, GOC, Trishakti Corps, laying the wreath at the War Memorial, to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice made by the valiant soldiers of the Trishakti Corps during the War.

The function was graced by the veterans of the 1971 War along with other ex-service-persons, their families and school children from various institutions.

A large number of military personnel and their families attended the celebration which was conducted in typical military style in the station.

The wreath laying ceremony was followed by a visit to the Trishakti Corps museum which showcases the stories of heroism and sacrifices made by brave soldiers of the Corps. The museum, which was opened to the public, also displayed the weapons used by Indian Army and also those which were captured from the enemy during the War. The main attractions were the captured flags, maps and the instrument of Surrender of the 1971 War.

Russia’s foreign partners in the International Space Station (ISS) program will be adequately informed about the results of the investigation into the microfracture found in the orbital module of the Russian Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft in late August, a source in the space industry told Sputnik.
“Foreign space agencies — the participants of the ISS program — will be adequately informed about the results of the investigation into the origin of the hole in the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft,” the source said.
On August 30, an ISS crew detected a minor air leakage caused by a microfracture on a wall of the orbital module of the Soyuz MS-09, which is currently docked at the space station. The hole was sealed by the crew on the same day, and Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos set up a special commission to investigate the incident. In October, the commission concluded that the incident had not been caused by a manufacturing defect.(UNI)

UNI) In a hot and humid country like India, everyone romanticizes winter and wait for it all year long but the dip in temperature brings not only comfort of wintry bliss but also several diseases along with it.

Heart attacks can occur during any season, but there is an increased risk for certain types of heart attacks during winter.

Falling temperature can increase the chance of heart attack due to rising blood pressure. Patients who already suffered from heart attack previously or had cholesterol problem and elderly patients above 60 years of age are more prone to heart attacks during winter.

(UNI) Day after the demand of BJP Tripura state president and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for Congress president Rahul Gandhi to seek apology in public for leveling ‘false’ allegation on the Prime Minister in Rafale deal, Tripura PCC Birjit Sinha countered Deb and asked Deb to withdraw his statement on Rahul Gandhi.
Sinha said, Biplab Deb should withdraw his comment made on All India Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and asked him to stand with the demand for holding Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into Rafale deal, as the matter was not at all for judicial intervention.
“We have full faith and respect to Indian judiciary but one must understand where the case lies. Congress did not go to Supreme Court, BJP leaders went to the court complaining irregularities in Rafale deal. We have been demanding for JPC probe since beginning and still congress stand with it’s demand,” Sinha argued.

Splashdata has, according to a report, studied 5 million unprotected passwords  and found 123456 bagged the top place while followed by most difficult ones of 2018. ‘123456789’, ‘12345678’, ‘12345’, ‘111111’ and ‘1234567’ so the last three were taken by ‘sunshine’, ‘qwerty’ and ‘iloveyou’. It is always tough to remember a tough password.

Tea selling and taking tea are famous now after we had a prime minister who had remained closely linked to tea as a young boy. So in India this creamy-coloured beverage is an integral part of professionals from many fields. Imagine a 5 to 8 hours tiring sitting on end at an office without a cup of tea is difficult to avoid. Now it has become a way of life.

(UNI) Oppo India Vice President and R&D Head Tasleem Arif on Saturday said that the company will launch 5G Smartphones and enter into the Smart watch and Internet of Things (IoT) markets in 2019.

Speaking to newsmen on the occasion of launching its India’s maiden R&D Center here, Mr Tasleem said that OPPO has launched its fourth R&D Center globally and first in India. The Hyderabad R&D center which is the largest outside China would contribute towards bringing exciting innovation and advanced technologies to the country.

Mr Tasleem said at present OPPO has four R& D centers–three in China and one in India. It also having six Research Institutions–four in China and one each in USA and Japan. The Hyderabad R&D centre would focus its efforts on the development and implementation on software localization for Indian consumers as well as device quality, he said.

He said that Oppo, the technological leader has introduced firstly launched Rotating, AI cameras and Super Chargers by supporting 15 watts charging in India.

Mr Tasleem said that the company has also tested 5G network smartphone two weeks back. The 5G smartphones would be introduced once telecom operators are ready to start the 5G network in India.

He said that the OPPO’s present R&D head count was 3000 plus. In Hyderabad R & D concerned, the company is planning to recruit 50 people in product development side and the same number would be inducted in quality testing side. The head count would be increased to 500 during the next 2-5 years depending on the market requirement. The technologists would be recruited from Indian Institute of Technology (IITs).

(UNI) The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been working hard towards facilitating safe passenger movements for Kumbh-Mela 2019.
Kumbh-Mela is scheduled to be held at Sangam, Prayagraj (Allahabad) from January 15, 2019 to March 15, 2019. IWAI has set up four floating terminals, one each at, Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat, an official statement here on Saturday said.
Further, two vessels namely C L Kasturba and S L Kamla will be deployed for pilgrim movement.

Fairway with navigational aids will be maintained between Prayagraj (Allahabad) and Varanasi with targeted least available depth (LAD) of 1.0 m. Five temporary jetties at Chatnag, Sirsa, Sitamarhi, Vindhyachal and Chunar have also been setup for embarkment and dis-embarkment of passengers.

Hectic parleys are on to select the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh with meetings being held with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi with possible contenders to zero in on a name for the post.
It is expected that a consensus would emerge at a meeting of newly elected legislators of Congress, scheduled to be held in Raipur on Saturday evening.
After 15 years of hibernation, Congress has come back to power with more than two third majority in assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.
AICC President Rahul Gandhi and contenders for Chhattisgarh Chief Ministerial post held another round of meeting in Delhi on Saturday after which all of them are learnt to have left for Raipur by a special flight.
Gandhi held one-on-one talks with the contenders. During joint meeting held subsequently, all the contenders assured Mr Gandhi that whatever decision he would take, it would be acceptable to all of them.

(UNI) A federal judge in Texas struck down the entire ‘Affordable Care Act’ on the grounds that its mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and the rest of the law cannot stand without it, raising concerns that 20 millions of US citizens might be stripped of insurance coverage as a result.
The ruling was over a lawsuit filed this year by a group of Republican governors and state attorneys general. A group of intervening states led by Democrats promised to appeal the decision, which will most likely not have any immediate effect, New York times said in a report.
But it will almost certainly make its way to the Supreme Court, threatening the survival of the landmark health law and, with it, health coverage for millions of Americans, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and much more.
The reform must be axed as the congress canceled its key provision the tax penalty for not complying with the requirement to buy insurance, Russian news agency sputnik quoted a ruling by US District Judge Reed O’Connor as saying on Friday.

(UNI) India on Saturday said that its military relation with France is “historical” and elaborate while for its part, the French government said that it considers a “strong India to be in the world’s interest”.

In a crucial meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her visiting counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian here, both sides agreed for enhanced collaboration in fighting terrorism.

“India’s defence relations with France is historical and comprehensive,” Ms Swaraj told reporters at a joint media conference with the visiting dignitary.

She said among other facets, issues like joint manufacturing do figure prominently.

In this endeavour, the Minister mentioned about Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit to France in October. “Both sides are committed to give further boost to the ties,” she said.

In a tweet, French ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler wrote: “Very productive meeting between Minister Le Drian and EAM Sushma Swaraj. France considers a strong India to be in the world’s interest. In climate change talks & soon, we hope, at the UN Security Council, India is a responsible power with which we discuss all key issues”.

Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said both sides held detailed discussions on deepening the strategic partnership, through cooperation in Indo Pacific, civil nuclear cooperation, defence and security, space, trade and economic sectors.

Ms Swaraj’s meeting with Foreign Minister of France is the “second bilateral meeting” in six months. These are aimed at continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges, he said.

A Chennai bound Indigo flight from Guwahati had made an emergency landing at the Biju Patnaik International airport on Saturday morning as a baby on board fell sick.  Which was a compelling reason for the landing where the baby was given immediate medical attention at the airport.