Wednesday 5 April 2017

What Ensued Between India and China Following the Dalai Lama's Visit

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrives to deliver teachings in Bomdila, in Arunachal Pradesh.
Source: PTI


Just as The Dalai Lama sealed a day of his visit in Arunanchal Pradesh, officials of the Chinese government have outspokenly put forward their disconcert over the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit, warning India of "necessary measures" to defend their territorial sovereignty and interests.  

Here's the dialogue that  ensued between China and India regarding the matter:

Speaking to reporters, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stated this:

India, in disregard to China’s concerns, obstinately arranged the Dalai Lama’s visit to the disputed part of the eastern part of the China-India border, causing serious damage to China’s interests and China-India relations. 

China firmly opposes this move and will lodge representations with the Indian side.

China’s stand on the eastern part of the borders is consistent and clear. India is keenly aware of the role played by the 14th Dalai Lama. Arranging his visit to those sensitive and disputed areas not only runs counter to the Indian side’s commitment to the issues related to Tibet but also escalate disputes over the border area.

It goes against the momentum of the sound growth of bilateral relations and will not benefit India in anyway.

China will firmly take necessary measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests. We demand the Indian side immediately stop its actions using the Dalai Lama to undermine China’s interests and not hype up sensitive issues between the two countries, not artificially damage the foundation of the talks between the two countries on the border issues and bilateral legislation and take concrete actions to safeguard the China-India relations.


In response to these statements from China, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had this to say:

When India has never interfered in Beijing’s affairs, and has respected the “One China” policy, China should not interfere in India’s internal affairs or object to the Dalai Lama’s visit. .
There is no political angle behind his holiness’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious.  No “artificial controversy” should be created about the visit.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, however, rejected the claims put forward by Mr. Rijiju, quoting this:

China upholds the policy of not interfering with other countries internal affairs. This is unquestionable.But in disregard to China’s concerns, India arranged the visit of Dalai Lama to the disputed areas. This issue goes beyond internal affairs. The role played by the Dalai Lama is clear to all. China’s position on the eastern section of the boundary is also very clear.

The arrangement of Dalai’s visit to the disputed area by India runs counter to its commitments on issues related to Tibet and it runs counter to benefits of bilateral relations. We demand that India stop this wrong action.

We have noted the statement of the official from the Indian side.

Could you tell me honestly do you seriously believe that Dalai is only a religious leader? I think the answer is known to all. He is not just a religious figure. Therefore, his visit to the place will not be purely of religious purpose. So using the empty words to defend this arrangement is not reasonable. We demand the Indian side to stop this move of undermining Chinese interests.


It is to be noted that on March 30, 1959, the Dalai Lama and 20 of his guards escaped China and entered India through Kinzmane. He was then brought to Tawang where he was accorded a grand welcome before being finally taken to Dharamshala, the capital of Tibet's government-in-exile.

Three years later, the Chinese decided to attack India through the same area. China claims Arunachal Pradesh to be part of south Tibet. This week, the Dalai Lama is back at Tawang on a religious tour.

Friday 17 March 2017

The Irreparable Ordeal of The Great Barrier Reef | Scientists Reveal Upsetting Details

Bleached coral is seen on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas on February 20, 2017 in this handout image from Greenpeace.   | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT






Parts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef will never recover from the impact of unseasonably warm waters, scientists said on Thursday, as more of the World Heritage Site comes under renewed threat from a recent spike in sea temperatures.

Warm seas around the reef killed some two-thirds of a 700-kilometre (496.4 miles) stretch of coral last year after warm water caused the coral to expel living algae, triggering it to calcify and turn white, a process known as bleaching. That was the worst die-off of coral ever recorded at the reef.

Even the areas that survived will not recover to full health, scientists from ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrated Coral Reef Studies said in a report, as unseasonable hot water becomes more frequent causing more incidents of bleaching.

“Given time, coral can recover from bleaching but the problem comes when you get repeated events. With less time between them, capacity for the coral reef community to recover diminishes rapidly,” Janice Lough, senior principal research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, revealed in talks with international news agency Reuters.

The conclusion is a major blow for Australia’s tourism industry, with the reef attracting Australian $5.2 billion ($3.9 billion) in spending each year, a 2013 Deloitte Access Economics report estimated.

Repeated damage to the Great Barrier Reef may also see UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee reconsider its decision in 2015 not to put the Great Barrier Reef on its “in danger” list.

Academics said the findings demonstrate the urgency in tackling climate change, which, climate scientists argue, occurs when increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is trapped by heat radiating from earth.

The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef has further darkened with evidence of an unprecedented second consecutive bleaching event this year, researchers at James Cook University said.

Unseasonably warm waters threaten to cause bleaching of the central region of the Great Barrier Reef, which avoided the large-scale damage from the bleaching in 2016.

“We’re hoping that the next two to three weeks will cool off quickly, and this year's bleaching won't be anything like last year,” said Terry Hughes, director of ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.





Report by Reuters

Thursday 16 March 2017

Shooting at French School | Sources Report Several Injured

Several people were injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern French town of Grasse on Thursday, police said.

One person was arrested and another was on the run after the shooting at the Tocqueville high school, a police source told AFP, asking not to be named.

All schools in the town, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Nice, have been locked down, education authorities said.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve cut short a trip to the northern Somme area because of the Grasse shooting, as well as a letter bomb blast at the offices of the International Monetary Fund in Paris on Thursday.




Report by AFP

Bahubali 2 Trailer Out, Wows Audience With a Grander Look




The much awaited trailer of the second instalment of the 2015 blockbuster Bahubali: The Beginning has surfaced over the Internet and is wowing the audience with cinematic elements that are much higher than the prevailing standards in the Indian film industry.

The trailer which runs for a little over a couple of minutes features some brilliantly shot scenes from the movie, teasing the audience with the baffling scene from its first instalment which featured the character Katappa stabbing Bahubali with a sword.

Bahubali 2: The Conclusion stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Shetty and is ready to hit the theatres on 28th April, 2017.


Friday 10 March 2017

Pakistan to Reflect on Social Media Ban on Grounds of Blasphemous Content

On account of the spread of 'blasphemous' images online, an Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge has called for a ban on social media sites in Pakistan.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has come up with a suggestion that people found to have posted blasphemous content online must have their names added to the Exit Control List, thereby prohibiting them from leaving the country. 

“I will go to every extent to bring this case to its logical end and if needed I will even ban social media in Pakistan,” he is reported to have said. 

Claiming to have had lost his sleep since seeing the offensive content, Justice Siddiqui also compared the blasphemers to terrorists.

The blasphemous pages are now being removed with the help of Facebook officials. 

It is to be noted that blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad is punishable by death in Pakistan. The country has a number of religious offences listed in its penal code, including “wounding religious feelings”, “derogatory remarks” and “defiling the Quran”.

Justice Siddiqui has also appealed for the support of Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, asking him to “take some steps in his own supervision to eliminate the evil, even at the cost of blocking the entirety [of] social media.”

The case was filed by Salman Shahid (son-in-law of Maulana Abdul Aziz, of Lal Masjid), who alleged that five bloggers, Salman Haider, Ahmed Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Samar Abbas, were spreading blasphemous content through pages on social networks.

Over 2,000 people are currently rallying in Islamabad, calling for the government to take stern action. 

Thursday 9 March 2017

Lipstick Under My Burkha | Shut Down by the Censor Board, Set to Shine in LA



In February, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India refused to pass a certain film that goes by the title Lipstick Under My Burkha, stating, “The story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life”, “contanious [sic] sexual scenes”, and “audio pornography”.

What followed was a series of scathing attacks on CBFC from the country's film fraternity, but the board chose to stay adamant on its decision of cutting down the release of the film.

However, the ban on the film didn't stop it from claiming the audience award at the 2017 Glasgow Film Festival, which, by the way speaks volumes about how those in power are clipping the wings of powerful cinema in India.

Interestingly, yet another accomplishment has graced the film: according to a Times of India report, Lipstick Under My Burkha is all set to open at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).

The film festival is scheduled for April 5 to April 9 at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Los Angeles, California. The five-day film festival aims at bridging the gap between the two largest entertainment industries in the world - Hollywood and India.

Lipstick Under My Burkha revolves around four women of different ages and how they explore their sexuality and challenge the sexual and social norms of Indian patriarchy.

Reserve Bank to Issue New 10- Rupee Notes



The Reserve Bank of India is reportedly on its way to issue Rs. 10 notes with enhanced security features quite soon.

The banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi series-2005 are to carry inset letter ‘L’ on both number panels, bearing the signature of Governor Urjit Patel.

The year of printing, 2017, will be on the reverse of the note.

Among other features, numerals on both the panels will be in ascending size from left to right. The first three alpha-numeric characters (prefix) will remain constant in size.

“All the banknotes in the denomination of Rs 10 issued by the bank in the past will continue to be legal tender,” the central bank said in a notification.




Report by PTI

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Google's Women's Day Doodle Features 13 of the Most Heroic Women to Have Ever Set Foot on Earth



Google's Women's Day doodle is a celebration of thirteen women who many might not be familiar with, but who were inspirational to the world in the most powerful of ways.

The doodle slideshow begins with a little girl listening to her grandmother reciting "the best bedtime story ever" before the child herself re-imagines the 13 iconic women.

Here are the thirteen women pioneers that Google has put together in its doodle slideshow as a mark of celebration of the International Women's Day:

Ida Wells

An African-American journalist and activist born in Mississippi in 1862, she wrote prolifically on the fight for women’s suffrage as well as the struggle for civil rights. She documented the practice of lynching black people in the southern states showing how it was often used as means of controlling or punishing black people who competed with whites rather than as a means of “justice” for crimes.

Lotifa El Nadi

Egypt’s first female pilot born in 1907 in Cairo. Although her father saw no need for her to pursue secondary education, expecting her to marry and have a family, she rebelled and worked as a secretary and telephone operator at a flying school in exchange for lessons as she had no other means to pay for the training.  Her achievements made headlines around the world when she flew over the pyramids and competed in international flying races.

Frida Kahlo

A Mexican painter and activist born in Mexico City in 1907, her work has been celebrated internationally as emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous traditions and by feminists for its honest depiction of female experience.

Lina Bo Bardi

A Brazilian architect, born in Italy in 1914, she devoted her life to the promotion of the social and cultural potential of architecture and design. She is also celebrated for her furniture and jewellery designs.

Olga Skorokhodova

A Soviet scientist born into a poor Ukranian peasant family in 1911, she lost her vision and hearing at the age of five. Overcoming these difficulties in a remarkable way, she became a researcher in the field of communication and created a number of scientific works concerning the development of education of deaf-blind children. She was also a teacher, therapist and writer.

Miriam Makeba

A South African singer and civil rights activist born in Johannesburg in 1932, she was forced to work as a child following her father’s death. She became a teenaged mother after a bried and allegedly abusive marriage at 17, before she was discovered as a singer of jazz and African melodies. After becoming hugely successful in the US and winning a Grammy, she became involved in the civil rights struggle stateside as well as in the campaign against apartheid in her home country, writing political songs. Upon her death, South African President Nelson Mandela said that “her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us.”

Sally Ride

An American astronaut and physicist, she was born in Los Angeles in 1951 and joined NASA in 1978 after gaining her PhD. She became the first American woman and the third woman ever to go into space in 1983 at the age of 32. Prior to her first space flight, she attracted attention because of her gender and at press conferences, was asked questions such as, “Will the flight affect your reproductive organs?” She later worked as an academic at the University of California, San Diego.

Halet Cambel

A Turkish archaeologist born in 1916, she became the first Muslim women to compete in the Olympics in the 1936 Berlin games as a fencer. She declined an invitation to meet Adolf Hitler on political grounds, and after the conclusion of the Second World War, she trained as an architect and later worked as an academic in Turkey and Germany.

Ada Lovelace

An English mathematician and writer born in 1815, she became the world’s first computer programmer.  The daughter of poet George Byron, she is chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine, and was the first to recognise the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, creating the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine.

Rukmini Devi

An Indian dancer and choreographer credited with reviving Indian classical dance, she was born in 1904 and presented her form of dance on stage even though it was considered “low” and “vulgar” in the 1920s. She features in India Today’s list of “100 people who shaped India” having also worked to re-establish traditional Indian arts and crafts and as an animal rights activist.

Cecilia Grierson

An Argentine physician, reformer born in Buenes Aires in 1859, she became the first woman in Argentina to receive a medical degree having previously worked as a teacher. Women were barred from entering medical school at the time, so she first volunteered as an unpaid lab assistant before she was allowed to train as a doctor. She was acclaimed for her work during a cholera epidemic before going on to found the first nursing school in Argentina. The harassment she experienced at mediacl school helped make her a militant advocate for women’s rights in Argentina.

Lee Tai-young

Korea’s first female lawyer and judge born in 1914 in what is now North Korea, she was also an activist who founded the country’s first legal aid centre and fought for women’s rights throughout her career.  Her often mentioned refrain was, “No society can or will prosper without the cooperation of women.”  She worked as a teacher, married and had four children before she was able to begin her legal career after the Second World War, becoming the first woman to enter Seoul National University. She also fought for civil rights in the country and was arrested in 1977 for her beliefs, receiving a three-year suspended sentence and a ten year disbarment.

Suzanne Lenglen

A French tennis champion born in 1899, she popularised the sport winning 31 championships and dominating the women’s sport for over a decade. She was the first female tennis celebrity and one of the first international women sports stars, overcoming a childhood plagued with ill health including chronic asthma – which continued to plague her in her adult life. At 15, she became the youngest ever winner of a major championship and lost only seven matches during her entire career.  She received widespread criticism for her decision to turn professional, but defended her right to make a decent living in the days when the grand slam tournaments paid a relative pittance to the winners.


Tuesday 7 March 2017

Blast Rocks Bhopal- Ujjain Passenger Train | Details and Helpline Numbers




The Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train was rocked by a blast today near Jabdi station, a railway official has confirmed.

The blast occurred in a coach of the train between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. when it was on its way to Ujjain from Bhopal, Railway PRO, Indore, Jitendra Kumar Jayant said.

A bomb disposal squad has reached the accident site, which is around 80 km from Bhopal, and is trying to ascertain the cause and the nature of the blast.

In a statement to PTI, GRP Indore SP Krishnaveni Desavatu has said that “the ceiling of the coach was damaged in the blast but so far we have not found any explosive device or its remains from the spot.”

"However, a suitcase was found in the coach and the bomb disposal squad is examining it,” he further stated.

The PRO said that two coaches were damaged in the blast.

They were separated from the train which later left for its onward journey.

The two seriously injured persons were referred to a hospital in Bhopal. The others were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kalapipal town, which is close to the accident site.

Ujjain range ADGP V. Madhu Kumar and senior officials of Ratlam railway division have rushed to the accident site.

The exact cause of the blast will be known after examination of the affected coach, Mr. Kumar said.

The glass panes of the windows in the general coach were shattered in the blast, which occurred when the train was about to reach Jabdi station.

The Jabdi station falls between Kalapipal and Sehore railway stations. Following the blast, the train came to a halt.

Smoke engulfed the general coach, causing panic among the passengers who rushed out to save themselves.

A relief train has been rushed to the mishap site, the PRO said.


Here are the helpline numbers that have been made available for those seeking information about their relatives in the train.


The numbers are — Ujjain 0734-1072 and 0734-60906, Indore 0731-1072, 0731-2521044, 0731-2521045 and 0731-2521046, Ratlam 07412-1072, Nagda 07366-1072, Bhopal 0755-4001606 and 0755-56508 and Habibganj 0755-4001603 and 0755-55551.

The injured passengers were identified as — Bharti Yadav (18), Athar Hussain (55), Jiya Kushwaha (27), Pushpa Kushwaha (39), Neha Yadav (17), Babulal Malviya (45), Wasim (25) and Amrit Sahu (40), the PRO said.

Ms. Bharti Yadav and Mr. Hussain were seriously injured the blast and referred to a hospital in Bhopal.

Friday 24 February 2017

India, Israel to Come Together for Joint Missile Development for Army


Prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to Israel in June, India has approved a ₹17,000-crore deal.to jointly develop a medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) system for the Army.

This is the latest in a series of other variants of SAM systems for the Navy and the Air Force being jointly developed with Israeli help under deals estimated at billions of dollars.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Mr. Modi, at a meeting on Wednesday, gave the go-ahead for the deal to be executed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).

According to a source, Mr. Modi is likely to visit Israel in June, and preparations were on in both countries.

The deal is for 200 missiles for five regiments, each getting 40 units. The missile has a range of 50-70 km.

“The system will be based on the older Barak system of Israel, which is in use in India. It is being changed as per requirements,” a defence source said on Thursday.

The systems will be manufactured in India and would have an 80% indigenous content.

The DRDO would play a crucial role in developing the target homing system. Deliveries would begin in 2023, a source said.

The two countries are also in an advanced stage of negotiations for the purchase of two more long-range Phalcon Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS). The CCS had approved the deal for additional AWACS last year that is expected to cost ₹7,500 crore.




Report: The Hindu

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Liquor Ban In Cyber Hub


Since the Supreme Court's recent ruling that ordered a ban on liquor sale within 500 metres of national and state highways, thirty- four pubs and bars in Gurgaon's upscale DLF CyberHub, near the Delhi- Gurgaon Expressway seem to be heading into a future full of uncertainties.

Moreover, a total of 109 pubs and 43 liquor vends have been identified by the excise department. These pubs and vends will lose their licences on April 1 in compliance with the apex court order.

The bars in several five-star hotels and resorts, located along the expressway, also fall within the red zone.

On December 15, the Supreme Court had directed states and union territories to stop sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and the state highways, as well as on service lanes along highways.

The court also directed the administration and the police departments of all states to chalk out a plan for enforcement within a month.

The closure of the 43 liquor vends could result in a loss of Rs 70.81 crore in revenue per year.

Some pubs and bars in the Sector 29 market will also be affected. A number of such outlets are also located along Sohna Road.

“We will comply with the orders of the Supreme Court. We have conducted a survey and will shortly submit the report to the headquarters,” said Aruna Singh, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Gurgaon.

Pub owners are planning to meet the excise department officials to get more clarity on the matter.

“Restaurants are being targeted unjustifiably. A restaurant is the safest place for an individual to drink and at least more than three-and-a-half lakh employees face the risk of losing jobs,” said Arvind Kumar, general manager, The Wine Company.

“Due to a lack of description in the ruling, all food and beverages outlets have come under the scanner. Let’s hope that the Supreme Court will explain this and give us a realistic guideline of the ruling,” Goumtesh Singh, owner, Raasta Cafe.





Report and statements collected from The Hindustan Times

Thursday 9 February 2017

WATCH | Ninjago Movie Trailer: Jackie Chan and Taylor Swift Come Together For The Lego Movie




A first trailer has been released for The Lego Ninjago Movie, which hits theatres on September 22.

Jackie Chan, Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña and Zach Woods star in the third movie in the Lego franchise.

In the movie, “the battle for NINJAGO City calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, along with his friends, who are all secret ninja warriors,” according to a description. “Led by Master Wu, as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon, The Worst Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad.”

The Lego Ninjago Movie is the feature film directorial debut of Charlie Bean (Tron: Uprising) and is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Roy Lee, who collaborated on The Lego Movie, as well as Maryann Garger (Flushed Away).

Mount Everest Base Camp To Become Free WiFi Zone



The base camp of Mount Everest will soon be a site for Nepal for the creation of free WiFi zones in the region. Located at an altitude of 5, 360 metres (17, 600) feet, the base camp will become the highest location with an availability of free WiFi services, which will also prove to be helpful in rescue efforts during any contingencies.

Mobile and landline services have reached out towards the base camp through Nepal's telecom service providers, overshadowing the use of expensive satellite phones. However, the use of mobile phones atop the 8, 848 metres high Everest still appears to be a far- fetched fancy.

Mountaineering news portal Himalayanglacier has pointed out that WiFi services tend to become more expensive as one ascends, along with services such as food and lodging.

“You can buy credits amounting to ½ GB of internet from Everest Link at around $8 in a place called Machermo. Once you reach the base camp, purchasing WiFi comes at a very high cost of around $5 per hour…,” the portal states.

Digambar Jha, chairman of state-run Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), said in Kathmandu on Wednesday that the regulator plans to set up free WiFi zones along the trials of Lukla-Everest Base Camp area and Annapurna Base Camp. “We will expand this service in other areas too,” he said.

Jha also added that the WiFi service will operate on the “Okumura Model”, which uses low-cost optical fibre cables for high-speed internet. Special optical fibres resistant to extremely cold weather and icefall will be used for the service. “We have already discussed the project with the International Telecommunication Union, and they are also positive about providing such facilities,” he added.

Besides easing communication, tourists and other users can send photos, videos and messages that will help boost tourism, Jha said.

Accidents and rescue missions
The harsh climatic conditions coupled with high altitudes pose serious hindrances to rescue efforts in case of accidents, turning out to become costly affairs for the government and tourist entrepreneurs. The absence of proper communication media only adds to these woes.

Therefore, to ease rescue efforts through WiFi services, the authorities are determined on being open to other options besides optical fibres: if the latter do not work at high altitudes, other technologies such as micro-wave will be used to provide the WiFi service.

Wednesday 8 February 2017

Rape, Molestation Are On Rise Around Us... But Hey! Let's Carry On With the "Whataboutery"!

Every time someone expresses one's concern over how women in our country are ceaselessly facing the evils of rape, molestation and discrimination, they are unabashedly ridiculed by a large host of people who come with the absurd whataboutery to counter legit arguments against misogyny and harassment.




Anyway, certain numbers have come forward through the minister of state for home affairs revealing the horrible truth which the enemies of womankind are bent on denying.

As many as 140 cases of rape and 238 cases of molestation were registered by Delhi Police in January this year alone, of which 43 and 133 cases respectively remain unsolved. 
The number of rape cases registered in 2016 was 2,155, of which 291 were unsolved, while there were 4,165 molestation cases of which 1,132 are unsolved. 
There were 36 rape cases registered against Delhi Police personnel in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Of these, 28 were registered in Delhi and 8 in other states. While two of these cases were cancelled or quashed, in six cases there were aquittals while 28 cases are pending trial or investigation. 
Ninety cases of molestation and 9 cases of eve-teasing were also registered against Delhi Police personnel in these three years. 
The details were tabled in the Rajya Sabha by minister of state for home affairs Hans Raj Ahir during Question Hour. 
According to the details provided by the minister, 51 cases of eve-teasing were registered, of which 25 remain unsolved. 
“The reasons for unsolved cases vary from case to case. However, some of the main reasons include non- identification of the accused person, stay on the arrest of the accused by courts, insufficient evidence or the accused person is absconding and not traceable,” the minister said.
-Report by PTI 


 

PHOTOBLOG | A Whiff of Breathtaking Mountains

J. R. R Tolkien, the creator of The Lord of the Rings once said, "Not all those who wander are lost." And true to the words of the master storyteller, adventurous travellers have over the years followed unbeaten paths that run beyond doors before dwindling somewhere far off in places of wonder and beauty.

And so, today we bring to you some spectacular sights captured by a young traveller during his many wanderings.

Indulge and enjoy.


1. A world above the clouds






2. Pristine serenity






3. The marching woods capped with snow






4. Roots of the departed






5. Whispering through the eyes






6. Furry musings






7. Winter- kissed






8. Chasing the shooting star






9. "Home is behind, the world ahead."






10. Concrete storytellers









The photographer, Jagdeep Singh Sandhu is an 
automotive researcher for a Gurgaon based MNC.




All images are subjected to copyright under JD Photography,
owned, managed and curated by Jagdeep Singh Sandhu.

Tuesday 7 February 2017

NATIONAL PAPERTALK | Kailash Satyarthi's Nobel Prize Certificate Stolen




Social activist Kailash Satyarthi’s Nobel Peace Prize certificate and other valuables were stolen from his New Delhi residence on Monday night.

An official of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a non-profit organisation which Mr. Satyarthi runs for child rights, confirmed to The Hindu that the theft took place at his apartment in the Alaknanda neighbourhood of the national capital.

Mr. Satyarthi’s son discovered the theft when he went to the apartment on Tuesday morning.

“It was a forced entry. We have not identified the intruder yet. Along with the original Nobel Peace Prize certificate, some jewellery and electronic goods have also been stolen. An FIR has been lodged at the Kalkaji police station,” the official said.

Mr. Satyarthi attended the Nobel Peace summit in Colombia from February 2-5 and is still out of the country.



Report by The Hindu

Monday 6 February 2017

A 15 Year Old Girl Accidentally Lands Up In Delhi; Rest, You Know, Is All Rape and Torture

Representational Image

As the idea of "feminism" ceaselessly suffers hindering blows from pseudo-feminists and men's rights activists, those truly in need of this very basic idea continue to fall prey to sexual predators. And that too right under the noses of those who ridicule people who put forward endeavours towards women empowerment and the eradication of rape.

Read this incident reported by PTI, which narrates how a 15 year old girl, who boarded a wrong train and landed up in Delhi fell into the hands of a bunch of grotesquely vile people, one of them sadly, but not so surprisingly, a woman herself:
A 15-year- old girl who mistakenly reached Delhi after boarding a wrong train in Chhattisgarh was kidnapped, raped and sold to a person with the help of a woman before being rescued by the Delhi Commission for Women. 
Two people have been arrested for trafficking the girl who was rescued from an area near Humayun’s Tomb on Friday. 
The girl was travelling in a train in Chhattisgarh in October to visit her relatives, but mistakenly boarded a wrong train and reached Delhi. 
At the Delhi railway station, she met one Arman who was selling water bottles, said a senior police officer. 
He took her to Sarai Kale Khan and raped her with the help of his wife Hasheena, he said. 
The couple then sold her for Rs 70,000 to one Pappu Yadav so he could marry the minor, he said. 
“She was living in Faridabad for close to two months with Pappu who physically and mentally tortured her. She somehow left his house and reached Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station where Hasheena met her and gave her a spiked drink,” he added. 
When she fell semi-conscious, Hasheena handed her over to one Mohammad Afroz, 22. 
“He raped her near the railway station and paid the sum to Hasheena. The victim somehow managed to escape and was noticed by a passerby who made a PCR call,” said the officer. 
She was rescued and a case under sections 363 (Punishment for kidnapping), 366 (Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage), 376 (Punishment for rape), 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison, with intent to commit an offence), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) read with 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC and 4 POCSO Act has been registered at Sunlight Colony police station. 
She is undergoing counselling after being examined at AIIMS hospital. 
“After several raids in Sarai Kale Khan and Faridabad, Mohammad Afroz and Pappu Yadav have been arrested. Efforts are being made to arrest the remaining accused,” he said. 
Police are also adding sections under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 based on the information available.

The only positive thing about this is that the police managed to come down heavy upon the perpetrators of the evils upon the girl. The society, though will continue establishing its "whataboutery" to deviate themselves and others from the argument of crime against the feminine population of the world.

ENTERTAINMENT | A Manglik Groom Meets A Restless Ghost of a Bride in Phillauri Trailer



Having successfully delivered an appealing piece of cinema in the form of NH10, Anushka Sharma is back with her second home production this year, Phillauri, the trailer of which was released online on Sunday.

The trailer appears to be a blend of two stories, featuring a mangalik Suraj Sharma set to marry a tree, which interestingly turns out to be the home of the spirit of a woman named Shashi, played by Anushka Sharma.

What follows next is a comic series of events between the mangalik groom (Suraj Sharma), the restless ghost (Anushka Sharma) and the bride to be (Mehreen Pirzada) with glimpses of Shashi's past (that is when she was pretty much alive and about) showing her romantic relationship with a Punjabi folk singer, played by Diljit Dosanjh, all occurring in the Punjabi town of Phillaur.

Phillauri sure does look like a film full of element of fun and is set to hit the theaters on March 24 this year.

Friday 3 February 2017

ELLE India Launches New Video Challenging Gender Stereotypes

Image: YouTube screenshot

PART 1: The Outrage:
For long the women of our country have been subjected to rigorous "cultural conditioning" under which it is expected of them to never fall out of line of the numberless behavioural rules that have been pressed upon them for centuries now. One of these laws, which, to say the least, are downright patriarchal and oppressive, is a set of norms that decide how a woman should dress up. And, thanks to the minds who consider themselves as protectors of the Indian culture, this absurd law still prevails, disallowing our women even the slightest inch of a casual room to breathe.

Consequently, the women of India ceaselessly indulge in all that tugging and pulling, hoping to cover up all that they can from the ever searching eyes of a large host of men of this nation- the unbelievably perverted bastards that this group is. But oh, how often do these lustful minds realise that what our women wear are, after all, just garments; yes, they slip and slide sometimes, because- yes!- women can move very much like us men!; and yes, the slipping and slightly sliding off of garments reveals things that most of us men mistakenly- mind you, mistakenly- consider immodest, blasphemous towards our culture, and (the most absurd of all) provocative! 

The very idea is nonsensical! What are we even expecting? That women cover themselves in the thickest possible garments with hooks that dig deep into their skin just so that the outfit doesn't commit the unforgivable sin of bringing out in the open that scandalous strap of a brassiere? 

From what it appears to us, it is not the Indian woman who is at fault, gentlemen! So why not just let her be?

PART 2: The Video
ELLE India, in association with WEvolve, a World Bank organisation set up in 2015, has launched a global campaign under the tag #UnGender, which aims to bring both men and women together against gender inequality by using art and media.

It has recently released a video that subtly captures the daily ordeal of Indian women in a highly patriarchal society.

Watch the video here:




Thursday 2 February 2017

ENTERTAINMENT | Ben Affleck Steps Down As Batman Film Director




Actor-filmmaker Ben Affleck has announced that he would not serve as director on the upcoming Batman standalone film ‘The Batman’.

The 44-year-old star, who is also producing the project, said he would just like to focus on his performance as the Dark Knight, reported Variety.

“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require.”

“Together with the studio (Warner Bros), I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world,” Affleck said in a statement.

According to the sources the decision was solely made based on what is best for the project and had nothing to do with the recent disappointment of Affleck’s latest directing job ‘Live by Night.’

“Warner Bros fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life,” the studio said a statement.

Affleck first appeared as the superhero in last year’s ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’


Report: PTI

SCIENCE | Adorable Kitten Toe Beans In Space!



Back in 1963, a tuxedo kitty from the streets of Paris, named Félicette showed to the world that there just might be some relation between cats and space. Fifty- four years from then, The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has finally proved that cats and space do belong together!

The ESO, a 16-nation intergovernmental research organisation for ground-based astronomy, has recently released an image depicting some astounding cat toe beans in space. Cat people would already be familiar with what cat toe beans are. For those who haven't yet experienced kitty- love, they are those cute, spongy little pads on the underside of a cat's paw.

Anyway, there is, in space, a "Cat's Paw Nebula", which according to the ESO was first viewed by UK scientist John Herschel in the year 1837. Since then, human eyes have been blessed with a fuller view of the gorgeous paw in space.

But that's not the end of it. The ESO's latest images also feature the neighbouring Lobster Nebula. Like Cat's Paw, it is made up of vast gassy (mainly hydrogen) regions energised by the light of newborn stars. Both nebulae (officially named NGC 6334 and NGC 6357, which are 5,500 and 8,000 light years away, respectively) are found right near the tail of the constellation Scorpius. 

Here's the full image:

ESO


In an explanatory statement, the ESO stated that "with masses around 10 times that of the Sun, these hot stars radiate intense ultraviolet light. When this light encounters hydrogen atoms still lingering in the stellar nursery that produced the stars, the atoms become ionised. Accordingly, the vast, cloud-like objects that glow with this light from hydrogen (and other) atoms are known as emission nebulae."  

The new images come from the Very Large Telescope's 250-megapixel OmegaCAM, a successor to its impressive Wide Field Imager (WFI). "Despite the cutting-edge instruments used to observe these phenomena, the dust in these nebulae is so thick that much of their content remains hidden to us," the statement declares. 

"The Cat's Paw Nebula is one of the most active stellar nurseries in the night sky, nurturing thousands of young, hot stars whose visible light is unable to reach us. However, by observing at infrared wavelengths, telescopes such as ESO's VISTA can peer through the dust and reveal the star formation activity within," the statement further clarified.

Wednesday 1 February 2017

SCIENCE | NASA Releases Close- Up Views of Saturn's Rings

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA has released high- resolution close- up images of the outermost rings of planet Saturn. The images were captured by the spacecraft Cassini as part of its penultimate mission. The spacecraft has been hovering in and out of the planet's rings every week since November, taking images depicting features as small as 550 metres, a measurement that may not seem so small to us, but is of huge interest when one considers the fact that the photos being taken are those of another planet.

One of the images has been shown above. The encircled parts in the image are bright disturbances called "propellers" which are caused by the gravity of moonlets embedded in the ring.

Images of "straws", which can be defined as a temporary clumping in the rings resulting from gravity from a group of embedded objects, have also been captured by Cassini. Moreover, it took images of density "waves" and "wakes" as well, capturing the sights in visible light with its wide angle camera. The photos were initially taken on December 18th, 2016, although it was back in the year 2004 that Cassini first reached Saturn and showed us the features of the planet's ring. However, the new images happen to be twice as sharp and clear than what the world witnessed before. 

More images of the ring could probably come out in the next few months as Cassini continues to make progress in its approach towards Saturn.


SCIENCE | 'Little Fish Fireworks' On Display Underwater

Representational image

Have you heard of bioluminescence? Well, according to BBC Earth, it is 'one of nature's most dazzling underwater displays.' And fortunately for us, a BBC film crew has managed to film this phenomenon as a form of self- defence.

The ocean- dwelling ostracods are animals that are known to give off light when they are disturbed. These organisms produce the chemicals luciferin and luciferase. which emit light when they combine. This process is called bioluminescence, an adaptation that makes animals visible in the pitch black darkness in the deepest regions of the sea.

To exhibit why organisms are able to give off light, ostracods were put into a tank along with cardinal fish, which, by the way, are plankton- eaters. The crew then observed that when a cardinal fish swallowed an ostracod, the latter emitted a burst of light, compelling  the fish to spit it out.

Physicist and BBC presenter Helen Czerski called this dazzling display as a 'little fish firework'.

Catch the light- emitting ostracods in action here:


Tuesday 31 January 2017

Diego Maradona Recollects His Time As A Drug- Addict


Looking back on his long- term struggles with drugs during his time at Barcelona, Diego Maradona now wishes he had never taken them.

Claiming it to be the worst decision he has ever made, the Argentine football legend has now opened up on his problems with drug addiction, a habit he took up at Barcelona in his early 20s; something that would continue to haunt him until well after he had hung his boots.

It was only in 2004 that Maradona overcame his addiction, getting the better of it with what he claims to be was God's helping hand to him.

Speaking with Italian television network Canale 5, Maradona recalled, "I was 24 when I started taking drugs. I was at Barcelona. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life."

Also recollecting the time when he was in coma, Maradona went on to say, "My daughter asked me to live for her while I was in a coma. I thank God because he listened to her and woke me up.”

On being asked if it was the money, women or drugs that blighted an otherwise wonderful (although at times controversial) career, Maradona put forward an outright honest answer:

“Drugs were the biggest problem – drugs kill," he said.

“I'm very fortunate to be here speaking to you. If I had continued I would have died. No doubt.

And at last, in a very optimistic note, he claimed, "I haven't taken drugs in 13 years now and I feel great."

SPORTS | "She was there when I had no titles": Roger Federer On Wife Mirka



After claiming his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Roger Federer has, with much emotion, acknowledged the support and companionship he has always received from his wife Mirka. 

Just a day after winning his fifth title at Melbourne Park, Federer showered appraisal on what he would like to call his 'No.1 fan'.

"She was there when I had no titles and she's still here 89 titles later," Federer said on Monday. He further added, "She had a big part to play in it – she knows it, I know it, everybody knows it.

Besides, the tennis maestro from Switzerland apparently is someone who happily puts his career aside when it comes to his marriage.

"She's a mum and wife first and only later does she become the supporter," he said. "I'm just happy she's my wife and she's my No.1 supporter."

Mirka was the first person Federer saw when he made his way off court after his incredible five-set triumph on Sunday night, following which the husband and wife shared a beautiful moment together as Federer made his way behind the scenes at Rod Laver Arena carrying the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.

Roger and Mirka have been married since 2009. They have four children together - identical twin girls, Myla and Charlene, and twin boys Leo and Lenny.

Federer also acknowledged that what made his victory all the more special was simply the time, although a brief one, he got to share with his family.

"It was an amazing half-hour (with them)," he enthused.

Monday 30 January 2017

TECHNOLOGY | WhatsApp To Introduce Real Time Tracking Of Contacts



Instant messaging app WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow you to track your friends in real time. That means, no more "I'll be there in just 5 minutes" excuses while you're still stuck in the bathroom!

According to the WABetaInfo handle on Twitter, known for leaking information related to WhatsApp, the feature will function on beta version 2.17.3.28 for iOS and 2.16.399+ on Android.  It will be disabled by default.

Moreover, phonearena.com on Monday reported, “The tracking can be kept on for 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or indefinitely. This comes in handy if you’re supposed to meet the gang at a certain location and time, and you want to see how far away from the destination every one in the group is.”  It also added that the live streaming is a function that can be disabled.

INDUSTRY | Vodafone In Talks With Idea For An All- Share Deal



We could soon be seeing Vodafone and Idea Cellular shake hands with each other for an all- share deal as Vodafone, on Monday revealed that it has started talks to merge its Indian operations with rivals Idea Cellular to counter the fierce competition in the market.

In a brief statement, Vodafone said that it has approached with Idea's parent, conglomerate Aditya Birla to establish the merger, which, it said, would involve Idea issuing new shares to Vodafone. They further added that this would result in Vodafone deconsolidating Vodafone India.

Beside, the merger between Idea and Vodafone could prove to be a threat for Airtel and Jio in the ongoing telecom game which began when Reliance Jio took the telecom industry with storm with its groundbreaking entry. 

Currently, the subscriber count for Airtel and Jio stands at 27 crore and 7.2 crore respectively. The Vodafone- Idea merger, if it were to happen, would result in a combined subscriber count of about 39 crore, thus making it number one in the Indian telecom industry.

Friday 27 January 2017

KASHMIR AVALANCHE | Bodies of 4 Soldiers Recovered; 8 Rescued




The twin avalanche in Kashmir has revealed more horrors this Friday as four more bodies of soldiers who went missing after the snowslip hit Bandipora's Gurez valley were recovered. Since Thursday the death toll of soldiers due to the disaster has now risen to 14.

Colonel Rajesh Kalia confirmed the reports saying, "The bodies of four missing soldiers have been found.

The avalanches struck an Army patrol and a camp in Gurez on January 25 and 26, burying over 20 soldiers.

Hopefully, eight soldiers have been rescued.

READ: JUST IN | Avalanche in Kashmir Claims Lives of Nine

SCIENCE | The Newfound Secret Shortwings of The Sahyadris



Naturalists exploring the "sky islands" of The Sahyadri have stumbled upon some of its well kept secrets nestled in the forests of some of its highest peaks, confirming the founding of two new endemic genera and a new species of songbird.

The research team, comprising of V. V. Robin, Sushma Reddy, C. K. Vishnudas, Pooja Gupta, Frank E. Rheindt, Daniel M. Hooper and Uma Ramakrishnan, has published the reports of the undertaking in the latest issue of BMC Evolutionary Biology. 

The reports suggest that the team has designated two new genera: one, the Western Ghats shortwings identified under Sholicola (closely related to flycatchers), and second, the laughing thrushes as Montecincla (closely related to babblers). The newly described Sholicola ashambuensis is confined to the Agasthyar Malai mountain ranges.

The species in the Montecincla genera include Montecincla jerdoni, Montecincla cachinnans, Montecincla fairbanki and Montecincla meridionalis  and belong to the genus Montecincla. 

Sholicola major and Sholicola albiventris belong to Sholicola genus.

Mr. V. V. Robin, a member of the research team, stated,"Though many people had noted some differences in feather patterns across populations in different mountain tops or 'sky islands', they were still considered a single species. It wasn’t until we had genetic data that we realised the traditional story was wrong."

The taxonomy of the birds also posed a challenge to the researchers. "What used to be called Western Ghats shortwings actually turned out to be flycatchers, and what used to be called laughing thrushes are actually more closely related to other babblers," Mr. Robin added.

"When we reconstructed their genetic relationships, it was clear that these two lineages were very different from the genera in which they were previously placed," Ms. Reddy said.

Another lucky break was the discovery of old forgotten specimens in the Trivandrum Natural History Museum. “They were locked away in a cabinet and forgotten for nearly 100 years. When I found them in 2009, I never thought that it would lead to the discovery of a new species!” Mr. Vishnudas said.

"For Western Ghats, already known for its rich and unique biodiversity, we have just increased the number of bird species found nowhere else in the world and each of these now have narrower distribution," said Ms. Ramakrishnan.

The discontinuous patches of forests on the highest peaks of The Westers Ghats are home for these birds; and these happen to be some of the most vulnerable parts of the ecosystem crumbling under the increasing pressure from human activities and climate change. However, Ms. Ramakrishnan seemed hopeful of the fact that the knowledge of the distinct evolution of these birds, and of ecology would be helpful in increasing conservation efforts.

Wednesday 25 January 2017

JUST IN | Avalanche in Kashmir Claims Lives of Nine

Image for representational purpose only


An avalanche in Bandipora’s Gurez area today has claimed the lives of nine people including five soldiers, while four other soldiers remain trapped beneath the snowslide. 

According to a spokesperson, the soldiers were killed when the avalanche hit an army installation near Sonamarg, where more than five feet of snow has accumulated. Four others are missing, preliminary reports suggest.

An official revealed that the soldiers' bodies have been recovered, adding that a major rescue operation is on in the area to locate the survivors.

Besides, four civilians were killed in another avalanche in Bandipora’s Gurez area.

“Four people died in the avalanche that struck Gurez’s Budugam on Tuesday night. A rescue operation has been launched with the help of the police and the Army," sub-district magistrate Gurez Rouf-ur-Rehman said.

The bodies of Habibulah (50), Azizi (48), Gulshan Bano (19) and Irfan (17) have been recovered.

Kashmir has been witnessing heavy snowfall since Tuesday.  Warnings of avalanches in higher reaches of north and south Kashmir have already been issued by the divisional administration in the regions.

Tuesday 24 January 2017

OSCAR TALKS: Complete List of Nominations for the 89th Academy Awards


The nominations for the 89th Academy Awards have been revealed, and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone starrer La La Land seems to be the leading contender with a record- equalling 14 nominations in categories including Best Picture, Best Director for Damian Chazelle, Best Actress for Emma Stone and Best Actor for Ryan Gosling.
Offering competition to La La Land in the Best Picture category are eight other films: Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell Or High Water, Hidden Figures, Lion, Manchester By The Sea, and Moonlight.
In the Best Actor category Ryan Gosling is contending with Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea), Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) and Denzel Washington (Fences), while in the category for Best Actress, the nominees include Emma Stone (La La Land), Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Ruth Negga (Loving), Natalie Portman (Jackie) and Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins).
The award ceremony is scheduled for 22 February in Los Angeles. Check out the complete list of nominations below.
Best Picture
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell Or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester By The Sea
Moonlight
Best Director
Denis Villenueve – Arrival
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Damian Chazelle – La La Land
Mel Gibson – Hacksaw Ridge
Kenneth Lonegan – Manchester By The Sea
Best Actor
Casey Affleck- Manchester By The Sea
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling – La La Land
Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington – Fences
Best Actress
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Emma Stone – La La Land
Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Jeff Bridges – Hell Or High Water
Lucas Hedges – Manchester By The Sea
Dev Patel – Lion
Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis – Fences
Naomie Harris – Moonlight
Nicole Kidman – Lion
Octavia Spencer – Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams – Manchester By The Sea
Original Screenplay
Hell Or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester By The Sea
20th Century Women
Adapted Screenplay
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
Cinematography
Arrival
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Silence


Makeup and Hairstyling
A Man Called Ove
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad
Costume Design
Allied
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land
Film Editing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Moonlight
Production Design
Arrival
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers
Sound Editing
Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully
Sound Mixing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi
Visual Effects
Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo And The Two Strings
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Documentary Feature
Fire At Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made In America
13th
Documentary Short Subject
Body Team 12
Chau, Beyond The Lines
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres Of The Shoah
A Girl In The River: The Price Of Forgiveness
Last Day Of Freedom
Live Action Short Film
Ennemis Interieurs
La Femme et Le TGV
Silent Nights
Sing
Timecode
Animated Short Film
Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Animated Feature
Kubo
Moana
My Life As A Zucchini
The Red Turtle
Zootopia
Best Foreign Language Film
Land Of Mine
A Man Called Ove
The Salesman
Tanna
Toni Erdmann
Original Score
Jackie
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Passenegrs


Original Song
‘Audition’ – La La Land
‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ – Trolls
‘City Of Stars’ – La La Land
‘The Empty Chair’ – Jim: The James Foley Story
‘How Far I’ll Go’ – Moana