Swachh Bharat, Skill India 'transformative' schemes: Pranab Mukherjee Edit

Swachh Bharat, Skill India 'transformative' schemes: Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday hailed the Narendra Modi government's initiatives like Digital India,Swachh Bharat and Skill India as "transformative in nature".

"President of India President Mukherjee believes these programmes are transformative in nature and their successful implementation will alter the landscape of the country," said a reply on Facebook live chat from the President's page, where a question and answer session was organised on the eve of his four years in office.

The replies were made by Venu Rajamony, Press Secretary to the President.

Mukherjee urged Indians to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.

"Citizens of India should dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation and society through constructive contribution to these programmes in every possible manner," he said in reply to one question.

The President also stressed the importance of teachers, saying: "Teachers are like the soft and skillful hands of a potter. They mould the destiny of thousands of students, in turn shaping the future of a nation."

In another reply, it was said that he "loves teaching and remembers his days as a teacher fondly".

Mukherjee was a teacher in Suri Vidyasagar College of West Bengal before joining politics.

However, the live chat evoked a lukewarm response from some net-savvy citizens who said very casual and "easy" kinds of questions were asked.(more)

Kabali film review: Weapon of mass attraction Edit

The expectations from Kabali are as high as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the setting for almost 80% of the movie, not least because it's a Rajinikanth movie. The reasons are varied: the audience need a taste of the Rajinikanth of yore, not a do-gooder Samaritan (Lingaa) or a CGI generated version of a warrior Prince (Kochadaiiyaan). Thalaivar fanatics just wanted him to have fun, which was rarely the case ever since Sivaji. The teasers of Kabalisuggested Rajinikanth is back to his glory days of Basha, Padayappa and Pedarayudu.
 
You wanted badass, you get industrial levels of badass in this Pa Ranjith movie. His previous film Madras had a delightful off-kilter sensibility. Sadly, here he spends too much time deifying his larger-than-life protagonist. And that makes the movie a giant 150-minute slog.
 
It opens with the erstwhile gangster getting released from a Malaysian prison after spending 25 years there. As soon as he steps out, he's apprised of how his rival gang (consisting of Kishore and Winston Chao) has grown from strength to strength and has turned the city into a teeming hub of drug abuse and prostitution.
 
Kabali starts cleaning up right away, while getting reunited with his daughter and wife along the way. You have to be punch drunk on Rajini mania to sit through the movie without dozing off or trying to play Pokemon GO at the cinema itself. The only saving grace is the man himself. The wizened visage hasn't lost a bit of its grace and infectious scowl.(more)

Filmy News

Allu Arjun, wife expecting second child

Telugu star Allu Arjun and his wife Sneha Reddy, who have been married for five years, are expecting their second child. The couple already have a son named Ayaan.

"Happy to share that my family is growing a little bigger. Another baby arriving soon," Arjun wrote on his Twitter page.(more)

Naseeruddin Shah impressed with son Imaad's performance in 'M Cream'

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is impressed with his son Imaad's performance in the film film "M Cream", which is all set to hit the screens this Friday.(more)

Anupam Kher remembers 'Pretty Woman' director Garry Marshall

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has remembered late Hollywood filmmaker Garry Marshall and said he had the "privilege" to meet him.

Anupam shared a photograph of himself with "The Princess Diaries" director, who died on Tuesday.(more)

Gaurav Arora's fan moment with Rajinikanth

It's a fan boy moment for Gaurav Arora. The actor will be travelling to Chennai to watch the first day first show of superstar Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil action drama "Kabali" on Friday.(more)

'Kala chashma 2.0' is a party starter: Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar says the revamped and rejuvenated version of song "Kala chashma" in the film "Baar Baar Dekho" will leave behind "a huge smile on the face and a dance in demeanour".(more)

Republican leaders denounce Clinton in Cleveland convention

Republican leaders denounce Clinton in Cleveland convention

Top Republican leadership on Wednesday held a mock criminal-style trial before the American public against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, saying she is not fit to be an occupant of the White House and the safety and security of the country cannot be left on her.

Soon after Donald Trump was declared the presidential nominee of the Republican party, speakers after speakers of the Republican party went after Clinton with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie turned the audience into an ad hock jury by asking if the 68-year-old former secretary of State was guilty or not guilty.

After every charge-sheet, the cheering crowd pronounced her "guilty" shouting "lock her up".

"I am proud to say that the voice of the people of our nation is being heard in this hall and those voices want Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States. But this election is not just about Donald Trump. It is also about his Democratic opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton," Christie said.

"We know exactly what four years of Hillary Clinton will bring: all the failures of the Obama years, but with less charm and more lies. It is our obligation to stop Hillary Clinton now and never let her within 10 miles of the White House again," he said.(Read more)

Rahul Gandhi shouldn't have resorted to denunciation of RSS: SC

Rahul Gandhi shouldn't have resorted to denunciation of RSS: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that Rahul Gandhi, who blamed RSS for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, should not have resorted to "collective denunciation" of an organisation and will have to face trial in the defamation case against him if he does not express regret.

"We have held it may be historically correct but the fact or the statement has to meet the test of public good. You can't make collective denunciation," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said.

The bench said that "freedom is not crippled or curbed. What is curbed is freedom of speech. What the writers, politicians, critics or antagonists say, you must have great magnitude to swallow."

The bench questioned the speech made by Rahul and wondered "why he made a speech quoting wrong historical fact".

The apex court said that they have applied their mind and Rahul Gandhi will have to face the trial in the case.

"What we have to see is the petitioner's allegations come under Section 499 (defamation) of IPC or not. Judgement is already there. You have to face trial, if you don't express regret," the bench said.

It also said "the purpose of law is not to convert people into litigants. Purpose of law is that people obey law. Peace and harmony should prevail rather than chaos."(more)