2015 Ballon D'Or shortlist

Neymar has made the three-man Ballon D'Or shortlist for the first time, alongside Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and title holder Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the world's top player award for the last two years after ending Messi's four-year winning streak.
The winner is announced at a gala in Zurich on January 11 when a series of other awards are handed out

10 facts about HIV/AIDS ahead of World AIDS Day December 01

 

Some facts about AIDS in 2015 with data from the World Health Organisation, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, and UNAIDS:
1. Globally about 36.9 million people are living with HIV including 2.6 million children.
2. An estimated 2 million were infected in 2014.
3. An estimated 34 million people have died from HIV or AIDS, including 1.2 million in 2014.
4. The number of adolescent deaths from AIDS has tripled over the last 15 years.
5. AIDS is the number one cause of death among adolescentsin Africa and the second among adolescents globally.
6. In sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence, girls account for 7 in 10 new infections among those aged 15-19.
7. At start of 2015, 15 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy compared to 1 million in 2001.
8. Despite widespread availability of HIV testing, only an estimated 51 per cent of people with HIV know their status.
9. The global response to HIV has averted 30 million new HIV infections and nearly 8 million deaths since 2000.
10. In 2015, Cuba was the first country declared to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV

German city of Hamburg votes to reject hosting Olympics Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

Residents in the northern German city of Hamburg have rejected plans to host the Summer Olympics in 2024, effectively ending the multi-billion dollar project.

Just under 52 % of 650,000 voters decided against the plans on Sunday Nov 29,2015, leaving Los Angeles, Budapest, Rome and Paris to compete for the right to host the event.The IOC will select the host city in September 2017.

The move by residents of Hamburg is the second time Germans have scuppered plans to host the Games.

Munich earlier rejected proposals to host the 2022 Winter Olympics

LA Lakers Kobe Bryant to retire at end of NBA season

Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, will retire at the end of the season.

Bryant has scored 32,683 points during a 20-year career with the LA Lakers to rank 3rd on the NBA's All-time list
The two-time Olympic gold medallist, 37, has been hindered by injuries in recent seasons and has been below his best this year for the Lakers.
He told the Players' Tribune: "My body knows it's time to say goodbye."
Bryant has averaged more than 25 points per game in his 1,293 NBA matches.

Pope Francis Visits Central African Republic(CAR)

Thousands stood in the sun alongside Bangui’s dusty airport road to greet the pope, many waving palm fronds in his honor. He rode most of the 6 miles to the presidential palace in an open popemobile

Since late 2012, Central African Republic has been racked by a civil war that has taken on an increasingly religious character, with armed groups divided among Christians and Muslims

Pope France called on fighters waging a civil war here to lay down their weapons and seek reconciliation, during a trip that raised concerns for the pontiff’s safety and hopes that his visit would kick-start a stalled peace process.

“The love of our enemies protects us from the temptation to seek revenge and from the spiral of endless retaliation,” he said during a Mass in the cathedral of the capital city of Bangui on Sunday evening.

2015 Burkinabé General Election Sunday Nov 29,2015

The 2015 Burkinabé General Election is scheduled to be held on  Sunday Nov 29,2015

The election was due to have been held last month but was delayed by a failed coup in September led by members of the elite presidential guard.

The election is the  first national elections in the country since the 2014 Uprising and the departure of President Blaise Compaore of who had ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years.

The party of former President Blaise Compaore, the Congress for Democracy and Progress, is banned from running a Presidential candidate but can still participate in the election and win seats in the National Assembly

14 candidates are standing for the presidency and reports suggest that Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Zephirin Diabre are the front-runners

IFFI 2015 is all set for a grand closing ceremony Monday Nov 30,2015

 

The 46th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is all set to conclude with a grand closing ceremony to be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa. Honorable Minister of State, I&B, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd) along with Honorable Governor of Goa, Smt. Mridula Sinha, Honorable Chief Minister Goa, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar and Secretary I&B, Shri Sunil Arora will inaugurate the closing ceremony. The ceremony will be compered by actors Lillete Dubey and Kabir Bedi.

Vice Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa, Shri. Damodar Naik, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Shri R.K Srivastava, Secretary General ICFT, Ms. Lola Poggi Goujon, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa, Ameya Abhyankar will also be present at the event.

A.R. Rahman is the Chief Guest of the evening. International Jury members including the chairperson, Shekhar Kapur, UK based BAFTA winner director, Micheal Radford, Palestinian based Israel director, Ms. Suha Arraf, German Actress, Julia Jentsch and South Korean filmmaker Jeon Kyu-Hwan will also grace the closing ceremony. The festival will also mark the presence of noted international and national film celebrities.

This year the festival hosted more than 750 film delegates including 500 national and 250 international directors, actors, producers, technicians including Oscar Academy members and Hollywood experts like Mark Mangini, Milt Shefter, Humphrey Dixon and Nancy Bhishop. In a special series titled “In Conversation” the film lovers interacted with esteemed filmamkers like Rajkumar Hirani, Madhur Bhandarkar, Shyam Benegal, Vettrimaran, Kaushik Ganguly, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Priyadarshan, Anand L Rai etc.

Noted filmmakers and international celebrities Pablo Ceaser, John D. Bails, Guneet Monga, Michael Ward, Nishith Takia, Ioanna Stais, Young Woo Kim, Matthew Brown, Edward Pressman, Dev Patel, Devika Bhise also attended the festival. National Award winning film makers like Aribam Syam Sharma, Bhagirathi, Tapan Biswas, Rajendra Janglay, Srijit Mukherji along with other Indian cinema stalwarts met their fans and interacted with media and fans.

The internationally-acclaimed ‘Shillong Chamber Choir’ will present a soul-touching performance at the event. The choir, which shot to fame after winning reality talent show, India’s Got Talent 2 will present a performance on the musical journey of Indian cinema. Famous Sand Artist, Rahul Arya will also present his mesmerising sand art performance at the ceremony

All-India Bank Officers’ Confederation (Aiboc)serve notice for strike on Dec 11,2015

The All-India Bank Officers’ Confederation (Aiboc) has given a call for a nationwide strike on December 11,2015 in support of its various demands. 

The notice of strike has been served by mail to all concerned, says Harvinder Singh, general secretary, Aiboc. 

The one-day strike will be preceded by other types of protests including wearing of black badges while on duty on December 2; demonstrations at the headquarters of all banks on December 4; and mass demonstrations at major centres and state capitals on December 7,2015

2015 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold - P V Sindhu seizes Macau Open title for third time

 

Two-time defending champion P. V. Sindhu completed a hat-trick of women’s singles title at the $ 120,000 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold after defeating Japan’s Minatsu Mitani in the finals on Sunday Nov 29,2015

P V Sindhu produced a dominating game to notch up a 21-9 21-23 21-14 win against sixth seed Mitani in a women’s singles match that lasted an hour and six minutes

Badminton Association of India (BAI) todon Monday announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh to PV Sindhu in recognition of her impressive title victory at the Macau Open

.

Sindhu, ranked 12th in the world, beat World no. 6 Minatsu Mitani from Japan 21-9 21-23 21-14 in the final

Saint Gobain shuts down Maharashtra plant Monday Nov 30,2015

Glass firm Saint Gobain Sekurit India has decided to shut down its plant in Maharashtra with effect from Monday as the facility had become economically unviable.

“It has been decided to close the Bhosari plant of the company with effect from the close of business hours on November 30 2015, as it is economically unviable to continue the operations of this plant,” Saint Gobain said in a BSE filing.

The company had earlier on August 31,2015 informed about its decision to shut the plant.

Videocon Mobiles launches 3 new affordable Android phones - Z55 Delite, Z45 Dazzle, and Z45 Amaze with prices starting at Rs 4,599

 

Adding to its range of affordable smartphones, Videocon Mobiles has launched three new Android smartphones - Z55 Delite, Z45 Dazzle, and Z45 Amaze with prices starting at Rs 4,599.

The Videocon Z55 Delite, priced the highest in the range at Rs 6,999, features a 5-inch HD IPS display and under its hood is a True 1.4 GHz Cortex A7 Octa-Core processor combined with 1 GB of RAM.

The phone comes with 8 GB internal storage that is expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card

It further features an 8 megapixel rear camera coupled with 5 megapixel front shooter. The phone runs Android KitKat and offers connectivity options like 3G, WiFi, and Bluetooth, backed by a 2200mAh battery.

The Videocon Z55 Delite is available in Black and Gold finishes.

The Z45 Dazzle features a 4.5-inch IPS display and is backed by 1.2 GHz Quad-Core processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM. It features a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front snapper.

The phone also runs the older Android KitKat and includes 8 GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 32 GB via microSD card.

This budget phone supports dual-SIM and is powered by a 1600mAh battery and is available in Black and White colour choices at Rs 4,899.

A third in the range, the Videocon Z45 Amaze features a 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS display and under its hood is a 1.2 GHz Quad-Core processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM. The internal storage offered is the same as other two smartphones, however, the phone includes a 2 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front snapper.

The phone further supports dual-SIM and connectivity options include Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G connectivity. It is priced at Rs 4,599.

AAP Government introduces Delhi Janlokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly Monday Nov 30,2015

 

Nine months after storming to power, the AAP government on Monday Nov 30,2015  introduced the Delhi Janlokpal Bill in the Assembly, which provides for an ombudsman with powers to act against any government functionary, including those of the Centre, in the national capital through its own investigation wing.

 Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who tabled the Bill, termed it as the most "effective and independent" in India's history and said the proposed legislation brings under its ambit every act of corruption occuring within the boundaries of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

AAP leaders said the Lokpal will have powers to even probe acts of corruption againts Union Ministers and central government officials, which may trigger another round of confrontation between the Kejriwal government and the Centre.

 Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia assured people that the bill is similar to the one that came up during the 2011 Anna movement, rejecting allegations of it being "completely different"

A four-member selection committee, chaired by the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, will select the three-member Lokpal, he said.

The other members of the Committee will be the Chief Minister, Speaker of the state Assembly and the Leader of the Opposition.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made his first appearance in the ongoing session of the House, while BJP legislators were not present during the introduction of the Bill. Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta, who was earlier marshalled out of the House, did not return despite requests by Sisosida.

Under the bill, the Lokpal can be removed only through a process of impeachment and it will require at least two-thirds majority in the Legislative Assembly.

AAP has an unprecedented 67 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The appointment and removal process has come under criticism from former AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav and BJP who have accused Kejriwal of playing the "biggest fraud" by diluting the provisions that were envisaged originally.

Anil Kumble steps down as chief mentor of Mumbai Indians Monday Nov 30,2015

 

Anil Kumble has stepped down as the chief mentor of Mumbai Indians with immediate effect.
Kumble, who has been associated with the Indian Premier League franchise since January 2013, has decided to pursue other opportunities in sports and cricket.
"Mumbai Indians is grateful to Anil Kumble, India s highest wicket taker in both Tests and one days for his contribution in strengthening the Mumbai Indians Franchisee.

In his first year as the Mentor, Mumbai Indians won the IPL and the Champions League in 2013. Mumbai Indians won the IPL once again in 2015," said the team in a statement.

Anil Kumble, on his part, said, "I sign off with the obvious satisfaction of moulding a set of brilliant individuals to a high performing unit. Over the 3 years, MI met unprecedented success winning the IPL twice and the Champions League once.

Winning both trophies in the same year (2013) being our crowning glory.

"As I move on to pursue other interests around cricket, I shall be amiss if I do not express my deep sense of appreciation to The Ambani family, particularly Smt. Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani and Nikhil Meswani for their unstinted support and empowerment.
"The players and my support team (coaching and non- coaching staff) have been an admirable bunch and were a joy to work with. Finally, I thank the MI fans for their constant support," added the former India captain.

Microsoft launches in India Windows Smatphones - Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL Monday Nov 30,2015

 

Microsoft on Monday Nov 30,2015 announced the launch of the flagship Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL smartphones in India. These are the first phones from the Lumia series to come pre-loaded with the Windows 10 operating system. “For us, these products signal the completion of the Windows 10 launch drive,” said Raghuvesh Sarup, director marketing, Microsoft Mobile Devices India. “We’ve had 110 million free upgrades for the Windows 10, and now those customers have the opportunity to use the same experience on a phone.”

The phones feature the Windows Hello iris scanner, the Cortana personal assistant and Continuum for phones. Continuum allows the user to connect the phone to a monitor using the Microsoft Display Dock, and gives the option of adding a mouse and a keyboard, transforming the phone into a PC. “The core thought behind building devices such as the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL was to offer customers a seamless experience across their Windows devices and to ensure that they were empowered with the most productive smartphones,” Sarup said. 

The Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL are available at a best buy price of Rs 43,699 and Rs 49,399 respectively, and are available for pre-booking at the Microsoft Store at Amazon.in and retail chains of Croma, Reliance and Sangeetha, the company said

Lumia 950
Display: 5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLEDCorning® Gorilla® Glass3 display

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808

Front Camera: 5MP wide-angle 1080p

Resolution: 2560x1440 (564 ppi)

RAM: 3 GB

OS: Windows 10

Storage: 32 GB (200 GB of expandable storage)

Rear Camera: Rear-facing PureView camera with 20MP sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS,triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording

Battery: Removable 3000mAh battery, USB-C fast charging, wireless charging


Lumia 950 XL

Display: 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLEDCorning® Gorilla® Glass 4 display

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810

Front Camera: 5MP wide-angle 1080p

Resolution: 2560x1440 (518 ppi)

RAM: 3 GB

OS: Windows 10

Storage: 32 GB (200 GB of expandable storage)

Rear Camera: PureView camera with a 20-megapixel sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS, triple LED natural flash, and 4K video recording

Battery: Removable 3340mAh battery, USB-C fast charging, wireless charging.

Turkey Sends Body of Shot Down Pilot Back to Russia Monday Nov 30,2015

Turkey today Monday Nov 30,2015 sent back to Russia the body of a pilot killed when his plane was shot down by the Turkish air force for allegedly violating its air space on the Syrian border, reports said.

A Russian plane carrying the body of Oleg Peshkov left Ankara's Esenboga International Airport for Russia, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported, without giving further details.

His body had at the weekend been taken from Syria to southern Turkey and then flown to Ankara.

Both pilots aboard the Su-24 war plane ejected and parachuted to the ground on the Syrian side of the border after being shot down by Turkish F-16s in the November 24,2015 incident.

Sharp showers continued to lash many parts of the state, including Chennai Monday Nov 30,2015

Sharp showers continued to lash many parts of the state, including Chennai, resulting in water-logging in many areas and forcing closure of schools in the city even as the weather office forecast more rains

Several low-lying areas and roads were inundated and office-goers had a tough time reaching their destination.

People wade through a waterlogged road following heavy rains at Vyasarpadi in Chennai.

   
Traffic in some parts, including the busy Velachery area, moved at a slow pace following inundation.
   
In many areas, motorists and pedestrians were seen carefully negotiating potholes on the roads, many of which had been damaged due to the monsoon fury.
   
The weather office said a low pressure area would form in the southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours commencing 0830 hrs, warning of more rain in different parts of the state.

Rain also continued to lash many other parts of the state including Tiruchirappalli, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur.

Chris Cairns Cleared of Match-Fixing Perjury Charges Monday Nov 30,2015

 

A British jury on Monday Nov 30,2015 cleared former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns of perjury charges over match-fixing in Test cricket

After a 9-week trial the jury of seven women and five men at Southwark Crown Court in London found Cairns, 45, not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

Charges were brought against Cairns after he sued Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi for libel in 2012 over a 2010 tweet in which the administrator accused him of match-fixing.

The allegations against Cairns resurfaced in December 2013 when the International Cricket Council confirmed it was investigating match-fixing claims involving three former New Zealand internationals.

Chris Cairns(45)won £90,000 ($135,00, 128,000 euros) from the libel case, but he was alleged to have lied to the court when he said he had "never, ever cheated at cricket".

Chris Cairns was said to have perverted the course of justice by trying to convince fellow cricketer Lou Vincent to provide a false witness statement

Chris Cairns' friend and "legal adviser", barrister Andrew Fitch-Holland, was also cleared of perverting the course of justice.

After 10 hours of deliberations the jury was directed to acquit the lawyer by Mr Justice Sweeney in light of the cricketer's acquittal.

2015 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese and Kenya’s Cynthia Limo emerged victorious in closely-fought contests to take home the men’s and women’s elite titles respectively at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday. 

Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese(21) taking part in his maiden Delhi Marathon, fell short of the course record by 14 seconds with a winning time and personal best of 59:20s.

Kenya’s Cynthia Limo, who outpaced her compatriots Helah Kiprop and Gladys Chesire in the last 200 metres, clocked 1:08:35s

Prince Albert II of Monaco and wife Princess Charlene turn out to support World Climate March in Monaco with adorable baby twins Monday Nov 30,2015

 

Prince Albert II of Monaco was accompanied by his stunning wife Princess Charlene and their adorable baby twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella as they took part in the World Climate March in Monaco

 

The Royal Couple started the walk from the Palace of Monaco to join the Stadium Louis II in Fontvieille, through the port and the streets of the Principality. About 1,000 people participated in the march to raise awareness of climate change, and call for action to help combat it

 

US President Barack Obama Visits the Bataclan concert hall and paid a silent tribute to the victims Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

US President Barack Obama has visited the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people were slaughtered earlier this month as he paid a silent tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks

He was joined by French President Francois Hollande and mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo as he placed a single flower at a makeshift memorial at the site of the horrific atrocity.

 

US President Barack Obama bowed his head in silence just yards from where ISIS jihadists killed dozens of innocent revelers 16 days ago.

Lara Bingle shows off her incredible post-baby body in the current issue of Cosmopolitan Australia magazine

 

Lara Bingle shows off her incredible post-baby body in the current issue of Cosmopolitan Australia magazine

 

 

 

Google Doodle Honors Anne of Green Gables Author Lucy Maud Montgomery Monday Nov 30,2015

 

Monday’s Google Doodle celebrates beloved Canadian Author Lucy Maud Montgomery, the force behind the Anne of Green Gables series, on what would’ve been her 141st birthday.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on Nov 30,1874 on Prince Edward Island, a tiny province on the east coast of Canada.

In 1905, Montgomery dreamt up a girl named Anne who lived on her home island. After a few years of shopping the book around to publishers, the red-headed protagonist’s story became a national, then international, sensation in 1908

Fame quickly followed for Montgomery. She became Canada’s literary sweetheart, breaking records as the 1st Canadian Woman to be named a member of the British Royal Society of Arts. She was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Lucy Maud Montgomery passed away in 1942 in Toronto, Canada, but Anne of Green Gables, translated into about 20 languages, remains a staple of children’s and young adult fiction.

French police clash with climate change protesters in Paris Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

French riot police fired tear gas at climate change protesters at the Place de la Republique in central Paris on Sunday Nov 29,2015, near where climate change activists had earlier formed a human chain.

 

About two hundred protesters, some wearing masks, fought with police on a street leading to the square, which has become a gathering place for Parisians since the attacks in the capital on November 13 that killed 130 people.

 

Police fired gas at some demonstrators as they tried to reach the square and used tear gas to disperse others. Demonstrators carried banners calling for the defence of the climate and democracy

Japan to lend Rs 5,479 crore for Chennai, Ahmedabad Metro Projects

Japan will give development assistance loan worth Rs 5,479 crore to India for Chennai and Ahmedabad metro projects, the finance ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The agreements were signed by S Selvakumar, joint secretary, department of economic affairs, and Yutaka Kikuta, deputy chief of mission of Japan to India on Friday Nov 27,2015

While Rs 4,410 crore will be provided for the Ahmedabad metro project, Rs 1,069 will be given for the fourth phase of the Chennai project.

The first phase (29.621 km) of the Ahmedabad metro project is expected to cost Rs 9,327 crore in March 2014 prices. The Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA), a special-purpose-vehicle (SPV) and a 50:50 venture of the central and state government, is in charge of the project. It had sought for a Rs 5,900-crore loan from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), a Japanese body providing financial assistance for several metro projects in India

Britain win Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

Andy Murray sealed Britain’s first Davis Cup title for 79 years with a brilliant 6-3 7-5 6-3 defeat of Belgium’s David Goffin in a fever-pitch atmosphere at Ghent’s Flanders Expo in Belgium on Sunday Nov 29,2015

 

 

With hundreds of British fans decked out in union flags and saltires roaring on the Scot and thousands of baying Belgians urging on Goffin, Murray’s nerve held firm to subdue an inspired opponent and give the visitors a winning 3-1 lead

 

Britain is the only nation to have competed in all Davis Cup editions since 1900 and its 10th title makes it the third most successful nation after the United States (32) and Australia (28). But the last time it won the team competition, Fred Perry was its star. Britain last played in the final in 1978.

 

Andy Murray became only the third player after John McEnroe in 1982 and Mats Wilander in 1983 to achieve an 8-0 singles record in one calendar year since the introduction of the World Group in 1981 — and the first to win eight matches that counted.
"What he's managed to do for the team is astonishing," Britain's captain Leon Smith said. "Absolutely incredible, amazing."
After teaming with brother Jamie to win the doubles on Saturday, Andy Murray is the first player since Pete Sampras in 1995 to win three live matches in a Davis Cup final.

 

Andy Murray is also only the second player to win 11 live matches in the same Davis Cup year after Ivan Ljubicic in 2005.

McEnroe had a 12-0 record in 1982 and Michael Stich had 11 wins in 1993

The winning British team hold up their trophies. They are from left, - Daniel Evans, Dominic Inglot, Jamie Murray, James Ward, Kyle Edmund, Andy Murray and captain Leon Smith