JAN 29, (DNA) – With Raees grabbing more than INR 1.55 billion in local and international markets combined since it hit cinemas, the team has a very special party in the wraps. At the Indian box office, the film has secured over INR 750 million already.In accordance with the movie’s storyline that focuses on how the Gujarat wine ban negatively impacted the state’s industry, leading to higher crime rates, the success celebration will notably exclude alcohol.The festivity is set to be held in Mumbai on Monday, and has already got many fans hooked on to the edge of their seats to witness the stars’ merrymaking.
‘Harry Potter’ actor Sir John Hurt dies of cancer at 77
JAN 29, (DNA) -Legendary actor John Hurt passed away on Saturday after battling with pancreatic cancer. He was 77.The British actor appeared in numerous movies, such as Harry Potter series, Alien, and Nineteen Eighty-Four, during a career that spanned six decades. He also worked in Midnight Express, which netted him his first Golden Globe and BAFTA win, as well as an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category.Hurt was also nominated for an Academy Award (Best Actor category) for his role as the anguished John Merrick in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man.The star was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2015, but continued to work, appearing recently in the Oscar-nominated biopic of President John F. Kennedy’s widow Jackie. He is succeeded by his wife, Anwen Rees-Myers, and two sons with Joan Dalton, his third wife.
Chinese New Year fireworks spark a return to hazardous Beijing pollution
JAN 28, (DNA) -Residents of China’s capital awoke on Saturday to dense, choking smog after many set off a barrage of fireworks overnight to ring in the Lunar New Year, despite limits and public admonitions against such displays in the congested city.The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said harmful particulate matter in the air had hit the second-highest level in five years by Saturday morning, the state-owned China News Service reported.Beijing launched a “war against pollution” in 2014 as part of a central government promise to reverse damage done by decades of breakneck growth and strengthen powers to shut down and punish polluters. Efforts to clean up the skies in the industrial heartland around Beijing are being thwarted by coal-burning industry and indoor heating, which increases during China’s winter months.
Lindsay Lohan meets Erdogan, Syrian girl blogger
ISTANBUL, JAN 28, (DNA) – US actress Lindsay Lohan on Friday met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and seven-year-old Syrian girl blogger Bana al-Abed in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on its website.In a picture taken at the presidential palace, a smiling Lohan is standing next to Erdogan, who is embracing Bana, and his wife Emine.Bana shared a short video on Twitter, in which Lohan says: “We want to send to all of the people in Syria and Aleppo suffering, and to all the refugees, we are here supporting you and you can hang on and be strong. Just like Bana has.”Lohan had previously expressed support for Turkey s efforts to host nearly three million Syrians fleeing their nation s five-year war, the State-run Anadolu news agency said.The US actress gave light-blue badges to Erdogan and his wife, bearing a quote from the Turkish leader: “World is bigger than five,” according to Anadolu.
FDA finds toxic substance in homeopathic teething products, warns against usage
JAN 28, (DNA) -The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned consumers against using certain homeopathic teething products, saying it has found high amounts of a toxic substance in some of them and they pose a potential risk to infants and children.Laboratory analysis found amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance, that sometimes far exceeded the amount claimed on the label of these teething tablets, the FDA said.Homeopathic teething tablets are used to provide temporary relief of teething symptoms in children.Inconsistent levels of belladonna can cause seizures, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness and skin flushing in children.The FDA asked Los Angeles-based Standard Homeopathic Co, the manufacturer of Hyland’s teething products, to recall the products from the market, but said the company did not agree to the recall.
Pak exports to Spain increased after GSP plus statue: Carlos Morales
ISLAMABAD, JAN 27 (DNA) -. Carlos Morales, Ambassador of Spain has said that promoting frequent interactions between private sectors of Pakistan and Spain was necessary to improve bilateral trade between the two countries.He said this while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.He said after the grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan by the European Union, Pakistan’s exports to Spain have improved due to which bilateral trade in 2015 reached US$ 1.1 billion while the balance of trade was in favor of Pakistan.He said that after GSP Plus, Pakistan’s exports to Spain improved by 44 percent during the first year, 24 percent second year but only 5 percent during the third year.
Iran actress to boycott Oscars over ‘racist’ Trump visa ban
TEHRAN, JAN 26 – The Iranian star of Oscar-nominated film “The Salesman” said Thursday she would boycott the awards in protest at President Donald Trump’s “racist” ban on Muslim immigrants.“Trump’s visa ban for Iranians is racist. Whether this will include a cultural event or not, I won’t attend the #AcademyAwards 2017 in protest,” tweeted Taraneh Alidoosti, the film’s 33-year-old lead actress.Trump is reportedly poised to stop visas for travellers from seven Muslim countries, including Iran, for 30 days.He told on Wednesday that his plan was not a “Muslim ban”, but targeted countries that “have tremendous terror.”“The Salesman”, directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi is nominated for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards, which take place next month.
Does depression boost the risk of cancer death?
PARIS, JAN 26 – People who are frequently depressed or anxious may run a higher risk of dying from certain types of cancer, researchers said on Thursday.Medical records of more than 160,000 adults in England and Wales showed that those describing themselves as psychologically distressed were more likely to succumb to cancer, especially of the colon, prostate and pancreas.Leukaemia and cancer of the oesophagus, or food pipe, were also more elevated among this group, they wrote in the BMJ medical journal.The researchers were cautious in their conclusions, pointing out that a statistical link does not necessarily signify a cause-and-effect relationship between mood and cancer.But the findings add to growing evidence that mental and physical health do not function on separate planes, and that one can influence the other, they said.
Paris Jackson claims her father Michael Jackson was ‘murdered’
JAN 25 – Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson claimed that her father Michael Jackson’s death was a murder, offering no evidence beyond saying the “Thriller” singer often told her that unnamed forces were out to get him.In an interview, she revealed that that her dad was, somehow, murdered.”Absolutely,” she said. “Because it’s obvious. All arrows point to that. It sounds like a total conspiracy theory, but all real fans and everybody in the family knows it. It was a setup.”Responding to question about who wanted to kill Jackson, she said, “A lot of people.” Paris wants revenge, or at least justice.”Of course,” she says, eyes glowing. “I definitely do, but it’s a chess game. And I am trying to play thechess game the right way. And that’s all I can say about that right now.”An autopsy of Jackson’s body by the Los Angeles authorities found a powerful dose of drugs used to treat anxiety. His doctor, Conrad Murray, later went to prison for involuntary manslaughter.
Hongkong is the most expensive place in the world to live
WASHINGTON, JAN 25 – An annual study suggested that the most expensive housing market in the world is in Hongkong.Hong Kong has led the list since it was first introduced onto the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey seven years ago.The survey assesses the median housing prices and median incomes to ascertain median multiples, which it uses to determine the rankings.Least Affordable Housing Markets 1. Hong Kong, China 2. Sydney, Australia 3. Vancouver, Canada 4. Auckland, New Zealand 5. San Jose, Calif. 6. Melbourne, Australia 7. Honolulu, Hawaii 8. Los Angeles, Calif. 9. San Francisco, Calif. 10. Bournemouth & Dorset, U.K. Most Affordable Housing Markets 1. Racine, Wis. 2. Bay City, Mich. 3. Decatur, Ill. 4. Elmira, N.Y. 5. East Stroudsburg, Penn. 6. Karratha, Australia 7. Lima, Ohio 8. Moncton, Canada 9. Peoria, Ill. 10. Rockford, Ill.
