Timeline Refresh
Cryogenic engines are used in the upper stage of a rocket launch as they provide the maximum thrust to a launcher vehicle.
The cryogenic upper stage, designated as C25, was tested on January 25 for 50 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, demonstrating all the stage operations, the space agency said.
The performance of the stage during the test was as predicted, it said, adding that this was the first test in a series of two tests. The next one was planned for a flight duration of 640 seconds.
The 50 second test is a significant milestone in the development of indigenous cryogenic propulsion technology, the ISRO said, adding that the successful hot test of the stage in the first attempt itself demonstrates the agency's ability to work in new areas like cryogenic technology.
The development of C25 cryogenic stage began with the approval of GSLV MkIII, the next generation launch vehicle of the ISRO, capable of launching 4 tonne class spacecraft in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
The vehicle consists of two solid strap-on motors, one earth storable liquid core stage and the cryogenic upper stage.
The C25 stage is the most powerful upper stage developed by the ISRO and uses Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen propellant combination.
The stage carries 27.8 tonnes of propellants loaded in two independent tanks.
Image for representation only.
In an interview to ABC News, Trump said he was going to sign an order placing a ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US on Wednesday but it was delayed, apparently because of a huge public backlash.
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They also gheraoed state unit president Keshav Prasad Maurya and party vice president Om Prakash Mathur when they were holding a meeting in Varanasi.
The two senior leaders were meeting the party's office- bearers from Kashi region under which 14 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh fall.
The protesters were miffed over ticket being denied to Shyam Deo Roy Chaudhary, sitting MLA from Varanasi South seat.
Earlier in the day, some workers also protested in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modis local parliamentary office in Ravindrapuri.
Members of Karni Sena stalled the shooting of film at the Jaigarh fort. They're unhappy with Bhansali for allegedly distorting historical facts in the movie.
"The film is presenting wrong information about (Queen) Padmavati. Our basic protest is about distortion of historic facts which will not be tolerated," Vikram Singh, a Karni Sena activist said.
Deepika Padukone plays queen Padmavati opposite Shahid Kapoor's Ratan Singh.
Ranveer Singh is in the role of Alauddin Khilji in the movie, which marks Bhansali's return to period era after the success of Bajirao Mastani.
Staff in US President Donald Trump's administration missed out the 'h' in her name in a document setting out the plan for talks on Friday, including a 'bilateral meeting' in the Oval Office and a 'working luncheon' following a joint press conference.
The White Houses daily guidance and press schedule from the office of the press secretary reads: 'In the afternoon, the president will partake in a bilateral meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister, Teresa May' -- missing out the 'h' in her name, despite spelling it correctly elsewhere, the Mirror reported.
It continued: 'The president participates in a working luncheon with Teresa May, Prime Minister of United Kingdom.'
The error was repeated in a later guidance note from the Office of the Vice President, though it elsewhere also spelt her name correctly, before finally being rectified fully in another notice from the same office.
Teresa May is the name of a former glamour model and porn actress.
Teresa May -- the actress -- also trended on Twitter during the race to be prime minister last summer.
The slogan will be formally declared on January 29 in Lucknow.
GAAR will not apply to foreign portfolio investors if main purpose of jurisdiction finalised is not to obtain tax benefits.
It will not interplay with right of taxpayer to choose method of transaction.
The ministry said that invocation of GAAR will involve a two-stage process: first by income tax principal commissioner and second by panel headed by high court judge.
GAAR will not be invoked if tax treaty benefits are derived within Limitation of Benefits provisions, it said.
-- On the one hand, we have preparations for Basant Panchami, and on the other, preparations are being done for Punjab's future as the state is about to go to elections.
-- This is the land of bravery, courage, one that has given great leaders and visionaries.
-- This is the land of sacrifice: warriors' blood and farmers' sweat.
-- There are many states but there is something special that makes Punjab stand out.
-- This is a land of givers.
-- There are people who are putting all their efforts into defaming Punjab. For their selfishness and greed for power and they are going to every extent to ruin Punjab's image.
-- For such people, I appeal to you all to punish them all for speaking about this great land in bad light.
-- Even in its worst phase a few decades ago, no one ever spoke ill of Punjab.
-- But today, it is a shame to see people stoop so low as to speak ill of Punjab only for their personal benefits.
-- You all can see how the Congress is collapsing across the country.
-- They are desperate for power. Their desperation is like a fish without water.
-- Badal sahab has always been true to Punjab. He has always given his best.
-- Punjab would love to see him lead Punjab toward development, and a better future.
-- Friends, the Congress is in real bad shape. They are being opportunistic. They are going from state to state - be it Bengal or Bihar - and now even in UP, when they saw there was a family dispute. They can go to any extent for the power of the chair.
-- When there were tensions between Hindus and Sikhs, when others were playing politics, it was Badal sahab who worked day and night, gave his sweat and blood to unite the Hindus and Sikhs. You will rarely come across a gem like him.
-- I see how actively Badal sahab participates for the benefit of Punjab. He frequently discusses Punjab's development with me.
-- The people of India don't go hungry, thanks to the farmers of Punjab.
"I think the world over the liberal democratic spirit is under assault...it is not merely a phenomena in India, with what's happening in Europe, in Africa and in United States, Latin America," Vajpeyi said addressing the Hyderabad Literary Festival-HLF 2017.
"So, its a growing phenomena where the idea of the liberal itself is now being put into 'question'," said the eminent Hindi poet, who had last year returned his Sahitya Akademi award. Stating that there is violence of every kind including murders, rapes, abductions, physical assaults at social, personal, domestic and academic levels, Vajpeyi said "there is violence against writers, intellectuals. There was violence against writers all along but they were not murdered. And three of them were murdered just because they had their view with which the murderers did not agree."
He further said and there is violence against dissenters, against information seekers, violence against women, against minorities, Christians, Dalits against Adivasis and alleged -- sadly more often than not, the state is watching mutely or is complicit in these acts of violence. Vajpeyi was among the writers who had returned their awards last year to the Sahitya Akademi in protest against the literary body's silence on attack on rationalists such as M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare.
Sources on high ranks of both parties have confirmed to ANI that talks between the two Marathi-dominated parties are on. No one, however, wants to go on record and speak about it as the discussion is still at a very nascent stage.
Sources further say that the seat-sharing alliance can be worked out roughly on the formula of 177:50, while the MNS is desirous of 50 seats in the 227 seats of the BMC house.
It is also speculated that if the alliance is formed at all, it will be for municipal polls outside Mumbai, including Nasik, Pune and Thane among others, and for local body elections for 25 zila panchayats.
The final decision is expected to be announced in a day or two.
This development comes a day after the Shiv Sena raised objection for using their supremo Bal Thackeray's photo by an MNS corporator on his campaign. The corporator from Dadar used images of the late Bal Thackeray in order to woo the area's traditional Marathi vote bank.
Both the parties met last year too, to discuss possibilities of a tie-up for the civic polls, but to no avail.
A day ago, Shiv Sena's Thackeray, after a prolonged cold war with the BJP leadership, announced that they will contest elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and nine other municipal corporations in Maharashtra alone.
Accusing the BJP of 'back-stabbing' their party, Shiv Sena chief Sanjay Raut told ANI, "The decision is not only for Mumbai and BMC polls, but for the entire Maharashtra. We will contest the elections using our own strength and power. We want to bring stability to Maharashtra which has been hampered post demonetisation."
Referring to the 25 years of alliance with the BJP, Uddhav Thackeray also said that his party wasted those years by sticking with the saffron alliance with the BJP.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP reportedly had held discussions over sharing the seats over two weeks ago. The discussions disfigured into a deadlock when Sena offered only 60 seats to the BJP out of 227.
Following the announcement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted, "Power is not an achievement but means of a development. Providing transparent administration is the key of our government. Those who want, are with them, those who do not want, are without them. Change would certainly take place."
The MNS, on the other hand, is struggling to salvage its reputation in the Maharashtra politics. It has secured just one seat in the last Assembly Elections in the state, out of a total of 288 seats.
Total income from operations was up 4.69% at Rs13,569.97 crore for the quarter under review, as against Rs12,961.85 crore in the previous fiscal, ITC said in a BSE filing.The stock was trading at Rs263.10, down 1.79% at 1.48pm, on BSE.
File pic.
Daniel Pearl was the South Asian bureau chief at the Wall Street Journal. He was kidnapped in Karachi in 2002 and his decomposed body found later. After the incident, Omar Sheikh was sentenced to death while three others were given life imprisonment.
Image: Photographs released by the kidnappers of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in captivity in 2002.
Rahul is on a three-day electioneering tour, the highlights of which will be joint public rallies with leaders Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu in Majitha, Jalalabad and Lambi. Rahul will campaign in Rampura Phul, Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda Urban, besides Majthia on Friday. Punjab will vote on February 4 and the counting will take place on March 11. Highlights...
"Whenever a farmer sees clouds (badal), he becomes happy that there will be rain and his crops will be good, but Badals don't give rain in Punjab.
"I said four years back also that 70% youth are affected by drugs. Badals made fun of me. Now whole Punjab is saying what I said. We have to fight the drug menace in Punjab, only Congress party can do it. We will make a very strong law against drugs once we come to power in Punjab. Drug peddlers will quake.
All industries are leaving Punjab and only one family is behind it.
Modi ji says he is fighting corruption. How can someone who says hes fighting the corrupt stand together with the Badals? Whole nation knows it (Akali Dal) has ruined Punjab.
People of Punjab are being looted everyday in one way or another. Congress will ensure that this money returns to the people."
The top court said that it has already passed orders on measures to stop illegal inter-state transportation of cattle.
In August last year, around 36 beef dealers associations across Maharashtra filed a petition in the top court challenging the ban on the slaughtering of cow.
The dealers asked the court to permit the slaughtering of cattle - bulls and bullocks, and out a ban on cows.The petition challenged the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra Animals Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, that bans the slaughtering, possession, consumption and import of beef in the state.
Earlier in the year, the Maharashtra government banned the slaughtering of bulls, bullocks and cows by amending the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1976, which was later challenged in the Bombay High Court.The Bombay High Court in May upheld the ban on slaughter.
"I am innocent," he told the Jodhpur court where his co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were also present as co-accused.
Khan told the court that he never went on the alleged hunt; he said he would return to his hotel room straight after the shoot and never go out at night for security reasons. He was reportedly asked 65 questions by the prosecution, based on statements from 28 witnesses. On being asked about his religion, he told court he was 'Indian'.
Among the witnesses are members of the Bishnoi tribe who hold deer sacred and reportedly chased the actors after hearing the gunshots.
Salman Khan has faced four cases over the years linked to the killing of two blackbuck and two chinkara in the alleged deer hunt while filming the movie "Hum Saath Saath Hain". The other actors are accused of instigating him.
File pic.
He promised that the "evil forces" behind the violence here on Monday would be identified and brought to book. Panneerselvam said following the police announcement early on January 23, asking the protesters to leave the Marina beach, about 10,000 of them had dispersed while about 2,000 stayed back.
On January 13, the court had ordered the five accused actors to appear before it on January 25 to record their statements, but their counsel filed an application for exemption from appearance. The court then ordered the accused to appear on January 27.
The prosecution has examined only 28 witnesses of the total 51. If required, the defence side would be given a chance after the accused statements are recorded.
The five actors, who arrived in Jodhpur on Thursday, are accused of poaching two black bucks -- protected under the Wildlife Protection Act -- near Kankani village in Jodhpur while shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998. Actor Salman Khan is also facing trial for possession of illegal firearms that were used to shoot the animals.
Two others, Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Ganware, are accused of helping the actors hunt. Ganware has been on the run since the incident and accusations against him are yet to be framed.
File pic.
Ten soldiers were killed as two avalanches hit Gurez Sector of Kashmir, an army official said on Thursday.
An avalanche hit an army camp in Gurez sector of Bandipora district near the Line of Control on Wednesday evening in which several soldiers were trapped, the army official said.
He said rescue operations were launched and seven soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer were saved.
"Bodies of three soldiers were retrieved his morning," he said.
The official said another avalanche hit a patrol party which was on its way to a post in Gurez sector.
An officer was killed on Wednesday an avalanche at Sonamarg in central Kashmir Ganderbal district while four members of a family died in another avalanche in Gurez sector.
Authorities have issued a high danger avalanche warning in hilly parts of snow-bound Kashmir valley in view of fresh snowfall which has been going on intermittently for past three days.
Representational image.
Ending days of suspense over the possibility of a tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party for civic polls in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray yesterday said that his party will contest the upcoming elections to municipal corporations and zilla parishads on its own.
The talks between the ruling alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena for the tie-up for all-important Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had reached a dead-end in the last few days.
"I am ready to go solo, the Shiv Sainiks are ready to go solo. I want strong foot-soldiers with me who have the courage to launch a frontal attack and not back-stab. Once I have taken my decision, I do not want anybody to question it," Thackeray said while addressing a gathering of party workers in Mumbai.
"If you promise to stand by me, I have taken the decision to go solo in Maharashtra. I will not go to anybody's door with a begging bowl for an alliance and won't be at anybody's mercy. I have decided that there will be no alliance for any of the municipal corporation or zilla parishad polls," Thackeray said.
Elections to the MCGM and other municipal corporations in the state including Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur and Nagpur are to be held on February 21.
On Wednesday, Sania and Dodig won the quarters against Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski to seal a place in the mixed doubles semi-finals of the Australian Open.
The second seeded Indo-Croatian team of Sania and Dodig felt the heat in the Super Tie-breaker but kept clam and not only saved two match points but also walked away with a 6-4 3-6 12-10 win in the quarterfinals.
Sources said the party was perturbed as none of the five candidates declared by its alliance partner earlier has been withdrawn by SP.
"SP had announced five candidates in these parliamentary constituencies before the alliance was sealed but since then no name has been withdrawn and local Congress leaders are especially perturbed over the issue," a senior Congress leader said.
Though both the sides are more or less agreeable to a broad understanding that Congress will get 6 and SP 4, local leaders and workers are not ready to give up either Amethi or Gauriganj Assembly seats from where SP has already announced its candidates, he said.
Congress, which is looking for a major share, also wants freedom to choose its nominees rather than blindly following the "sitting-getting" formula.
Masi Sadaiyan and Vaidivel Gopal, both in their 50s, from the Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu, are successful python hunters in India, and were brought in, along with two translators, to work with detection dogs earlier this month to track down and capture the giant snakes.
In just eight days, they have surprised officals of Florida Fish and Wildlfe Conservation Commission (FWC) by bagging as many as 13 pythons, including a 16-foot-long female.
This morning Mallya tweeted from his personal Twitter account @TheVijayMallya saying, "In our Country I assumed that innocence prevails till proven guilty. Media have convicted me guilty without trial with widespread influence."
On Thursday, he hit out at SEBI for barring him from securities market with regard to alleged fund diversion from United Spirits and termed the charges "baseless".
In a series of tweets, he called the allegations of fund diversion concerning now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines a "joke" and said he is getting used to "witch hunts coming from all directions with no legal basis whatsoever".
"CBI alleges diversion of funds OUT of Kingfisher Air. SEBI alleges diversion of funds from USL INTO Kingfisher Air. What joke is this?," Mallya tweeted.
He further said: "Allegations of fund diversion out of USL are baseless. USL accounts were approved by top Auditors, an eminent Board of Directors n (sic) shareholders."
Mallya, who is now staying in London, also scoffed at suggestions that he had fled the country in the wake of the investigations against him saying his departure was "nothing sudden. I have been a non resident since 1988".
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The post will fall vacant after incumbent
foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, who has been designated as ambassador
to the US, moves to Washington to take up his new assignment replacing
outgoing ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani.
The court earlier on January 3 re-issued production warrant against Mintoo after the Punjab Police failed to produce him before it in connection with the case.
Mintoo was nabbed on November 28 last year from New Delhi railway station, a day after he escaped with five other inmates from Punjab's Narbha Jail.
He has been in custody since November 29 last year. Mintoo has reportedly told his interrogators about the KLF's expansion plans with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.
The self-styled KLF chief has reportedly told his interrogators about the KLF's expansion plans with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.