ʟᴜᴄɪ፝֟ꜰᴇʀ

HIGHLIGHTS A new registration mark for new vehicles, called Bharat series (BH-series) is introduced. A vehicle with BH mark will not require a new registration mark when the owner shifts from one state to another state. This facility is available on voluntary basis to Defence personnel, employees of Central & State Govt; Central and State PSUs; and private sector companies having their offices in four or more States/UTs. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified that it has introduced a new registration mark for new vehicles, called the Bharat series (BH-series). Additionally, a vehicle with a BH mark will not require a new registration mark when the owner shifts from one state to another state. The Ministry also announced that this facility is available on a voluntary basis to Defence personnel, employees of Central & State Govt; Central and State PSUs; and private sector companies having their offices in four or more States/UTs. In a statement released by the ministry said, “Station relocation occurs with both government and private sector employees. Such movements create a sense of unease in the minds of many employees with regard to the transfer of registration from the parent state to another state as, under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a person is allowed to keep the vehicle for not more than 12 months in any state other than the state where the vehicle is registered, but a new registration with the new state-registering authority has to be made within the sti[CENSORED]ted time of 12 months.” The Ministry also said that an IT-based solution for vehicle registration is one such effort. However, one of the painful points in the vehicle registration process that needed attention was re-registration of a vehicle while moving to another state. With the new Bharat Series, the problem could be resolved without causing too much grief for a vehicle owner wanting to relocate to a different state. The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiples of two. This scheme will facilitate the free movement of personal vehicles across States/UTs of India upon relocation to a new State/UT. After completion of the 14th year, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied annually, which shall be half of the amount which was charged earlier for that vehicle.

Another attack on Kabul airport is highly likely, US President Joe Biden has warned, saying commanders have told him it could come as early as Sunday. The state department has urged all US citizens to leave the area near the airport because of a "specific, credible threat". The US is continuing evacuations but the final UK troops, diplomats and officials have now left Kabul. A suicide bombing near the airport on Thursday resulted in some 170 deaths. A local branch of the Islamic State group - Islamic State in Khorasan Province (IS-K) - claimed the attack. In retaliation, the US carried out a drone strike on eastern Afghanistan late on Friday, saying it had killed two "high-profile" IS-K members. The two are described as a planner and a facilitator. It is unclear whether they were directly involved in planning the Kabul airport attack. "This strike was not the last. We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay," Mr Biden said in a statement released on Saturday. IS-K is the most extreme and violent of all the jihadist militant groups in Afghanistan and has major differences with the Taliban, who now control most of the country. It accuses them of abandoning the battlefield in favour of a negotiated peace settlement with the Americans. The Taliban condemned the air strike, saying the Americans should have consulted them first, a spokesman told Reuters news agency. US troops have begun their withdrawal from the airport - their numbers are now down to 4,000, from a peak of 5,800 in the past week. The next few days are likely to be the most dangerous since the evacuation began, White House officials say. Just over 1,000 civilians remain to be airlifted from Kabul airport, an unnamed Western official told Reuters news agency. The Taliban have set up further layers of checkpoints around the airport and are not allowing most Afghans through, the Associated Press (AP) reports. In all, more than 110,000 people - both Afghans and foreign nationals - have been evacuated from Kabul airport since the airlift began two weeks ago. On Saturday, Italy's final flight from Afghanistan arrived in Rome. Italy said it had evacuated almost 5,000 Afghan citizens from Kabul - the highest number of any EU country. France said it had flown out more than 2,800 since 17 August, while Germany said it had taken about 4,000 Afghans. The head of the UK's armed forces, General Sir Nick Carter, said it was "heartbreaking" that they had not been able to rescue everyone. Final UK troops leave Afghanistan Saturday's events as they unfolded Where will all the Afghan refugees go? With the possibility of leaving by air now dwindling, many Afghans are reportedly now trying to escape the country via the land border with Pakistan, to the east. The border gates near the southern town of Spin Boldak are open and some people have been making it through. One of the main border crossings, at Torkham, is closed. France and Britain will urge the UN to create a "safe zone" in Kabul to help evacuation efforts, French President Emmanuel Macron said. He said it would allow the international community to carry out humanitarian work and "maintain pressure on the Taliban". Since the Taliban took Kabul on 15 August, the Afghan economy has been in freefall as aid donors freeze funds and panicked depositors seek to withdraw their money from banks. On Saturday crowds of protesters gathered outside banks in the Afghan capital. "If the situation continues and employees of the government don't get their salaries and a businessman cannot get his money from the bank for trading, the result of this is very horrible, and there will be poverty in the society as well, and no one can solve that issue," one man told Reuters.

Among the endless variety of colours and combinations that the marketers trade with, black is the everlasting po[CENSORED]r choice Whether a wedding or a night out, black is the new normal. From wearing it to the office to wearing it at a soirée, black has never disappointed. Consequently, a submissive e-commerce platform, The Black Lover has launched its brand as a curated commercial center for the individuals who are fixated on the shading-Black. It has dispatched their image to fulfill your never-ending love for the colour-Black. It is regularly a delight to spot anything, which accompanies black in it. Moreover anyone and everyone can wear this color, because it highlights every beautiful skin colour. While splendid tones and whites fill their need in the late spring, ‘black’ actually knocks your socks off. Ranging from tees to dresses, we have a trending collection all in black for all the dazzling ladies out there. One can simply pick the Girl printed tee, pair it with the Solid Black Jeggings, and the Traditional Bellies for an inky black look from head to toe. Indeed, the men are more likely to pull out the most basic tee from their closet for their ordinary wear. Remembering this, we have an attractive range of printed black tees to suffice their everyday leisurewear needs. Our black polos have been exclusively designed for a smart and casual look while the all-cotton black shirt can give you a charming black semblance for a dinner date when matched with a denim and boat shoe. Besides, the same can be paired with the essential black tie for a formal look as well, since black is basic and simple. The Black Lover also has an exciting and fresh range of athletic apparel for both men and women, with a fusion of black and pink, blue, green, and grey. The lovers of black will not be able to take their eyes off the site as an ethnic section is on the cards. We will also be giving our customers the exclusive opportunity to customize their own à la mode attire with the base being in black. To top everything, it will be designed by the expert fashioners of The Black Lover. That’s not it! They will get their dream outfit a fortnight ahead of their special day. We also plan to launch personalized outfits on their birthdays to make the day even more special for our adored clients. Simultaneously, our Black Store section has an exciting scope for coffee mugs, backpacks, caps, and wallets for millennials. The black cushions, stools, and the Buddha effigy can establish the pace in your home décor as black has the versatility to fuse into its environment. What has made The Black Lover stand out from the other E-commerce websites? Yes of course their theme and quality products, and their segment for personalised orders, but what else? The Black Lover’s vision and their effort which is trying to create a difference in the world of the underprivileged. They have an upcoming segment- Angels of my Nation- the profits of which will be handed over to the various NGOs featured on the website. So when you buy anything from that segment, it’s not only a smile on your face, but also on the face of a child somewhere far away. Being locked at home does not lock up our fashion sense too. The Black Lover’s vision is to overcome any issues between the pandemic and the millennials’ constant crave for fashion. You can wear the super comfy and funky pyjamas for a good night’s sleep or slide into your basic black tee for your work from home meetings. On the off chance, that you are a morning jogger simply ribbon up the high contrast sports shoe for a brisk run or a pair of slippers for a quick grocery run but hey, just don’t forget your mask! To know more, visit www.theblacklover.com. Disclaimer: This content is released by Digpu News Network. No HT journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

Mumbai: Hours after he was arrested over his controversial remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray which triggered a political row and protests across Maharashtra, Union minister Narayan Rane was granted bail by a court at Mahad on late Tuesday night. The magistrate's court denied the police's request for his custody but asked Rane to attend the Mahad police station in two days. The BJP leader had said during the Jan Ashirwad Yatra of his party on Monday that he would have slapped Thackeray over the latter's 'ignorance' of the year of India's Independence. "Satyamev Jayate" (truth always prevails), Rane tweeted after getting bail and on his way back to Mumbai. After his arrest on Tuesday afternoon, Rane was taken to Mahad in Raigad district, 165 km from Mumbai, where an FIR was registered against him over the remark. Cases were registered against him at Nashik and Pune too as the remark set off angry protests by workers of the ruling Shiv Sena. Rane was taken into custody at Golwali, the ancestral village of former RSS chief Sadashivrao Golwalkar 'Guruji' in Ratnagiri district. He was then handed over to Raigad police around 2.45 pm in connection with the FIR registered at Mahad. The case at Mahad was registered under IPC sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of public peace), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief). At the Mahad court, government pleader Bhushan Salvi sought seven-day police custody for the BJP leader. It was important to investigate if there was a conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of the chief minister, he said. Opposing the application, Rane's lawyers Aniket Nikam and Bhau Salunkhe argued that his health condition was serious as he was 69 years old and suffered from sugar and blood pressure issues. Nikam further argued that the offenses under IPC for which Rane was arrested were all punishable with less than seven years and hence his custody was unnecessary. Nikam also argued that Rane's arrest was illegal as no summons was issued to him under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure before his arrest. Court, after hearing both the sides, denied the police the Union minister's custody. It instead remanded him in judicial custody and then, on the plea moved by his lawyers, granted Rane bail on a surety of Rs 15,000. The arrest had followed Rane's statement targeting Thackeray in Raigad district on Monday. It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech (on 15 August). Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane had said. Rane defended his remarks against Thackeray, saying he hasn't committed any crime by making them. On media reportage of his 'imminent arrest' in the case, Rane said hours before his arrest that he was not a normal' (ordinary) man and cautioned the media against such reportage. Rane's remarks against Thackeray drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put up a poster in Mumbai, calling him a kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur area five decades ago, during the initial part of his over four-decade-long stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party. Rane's remarks against Uddhav Thackeray set off protests in Mumbai and several other cities which included pelting of stones and vandalising offices of BJP in some areas by Shiv Sena cadres. In Mumbai, activists of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Sena, and the BJP clashed near Rane's residence on the Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West). Stones were pelted from both sides, following which police used cane-charge to disperse the agitators, an official said, adding heavy police security was deployed outside Rane's residence. Slamming the Maharashtra government, BJP president JP Nadda said Rane's arrest was violative of constitutional values, and his party will not be cowed down by such actions. In a tweet, Nadda said the "huge" response the BJP has received in its 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' has jolted its rivals. "We fight democratically. The yatra will continue," he said. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil distanced himself from Rane's remarks. I am not defending Rane's comments, but I will also not express regret," Patil said. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP does not support Rane's comments, but the "party stands behind him 100 percent". Alleging that the state police force was being used as a tool for "vendetta politics", the former chief minister said there should be law and order and "not Taliban-like governance". Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the sacking of Rane over his remarks against the Maharashtra chief minister. Though a team of Nashik police was earlier said to have left to take Rane in custody (as an FIR has been filed against him there too), a senior police official said late at night that they would not arrest the BJP leader for now in view of the Mahad court's bail order.

Obesity or excessive accumulation of body fat has become a common problem among pets these days. It can also shorten the life span of pet animals, other than impacting their overall health. Such pets may develop serious health problems like osteoarthritis, heart diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. What causes obesity in pets? Obesity is usually caused when there is excessive dietary intake and inadequate utilisation of energy. It can affect all kinds of pets and the most common reasons are overfeeding and lack of exercise, although diseases like hypothyroidism and insulinoma can also cause obesity in pets. Overweight pets may display symptoms like lethargy, respiratory problems, intolerance for exercise, and loss of mobility. “The main reason for obesity in pets is the lifestyle of the owner, excess consumption of commercial food, and unbalanced feeding schedule. I always advise people to provide natural food to their pets. Other than that, old pets and the pets who are not doing well emotionally also tend to suffer from obesity,” Dr Gustavo Pinto, a veterinary doctor from Panjim, Goa, said. However, obesity in dogs is seen more often as compared to cats or other pets. Restricting treats and frequent exercise can help monitor the weight of animals. Not just pets, obesity has been affecting wild animals too. “I have seen a rise in obesity cases in my clinic in the last few years. Obesity is not just a rising problem in pets like dogs and cats, recently my colleague treated an obese monkey whose weight was five to six times more than the normal weight,” Dr Narendra Pardeshi, veterinarian, Small Animal Clinic, Pune, said. Also Read |Pet health: Easy-to-follow nutrition pointers for your dog Treatment, preventive tips Morbid obesity cannot be treated with exercise, says Dr Pardeshi who recently collaborated with Dr Shashank Shah, laparoscopic bariatric surgeon of LaparoObeso Centre, Pune, and performed the very first laparoscopic surgery of a dog suffering from hypothyroidism in the country. Dipika, the dog was 50kg in weight, and in just a week after her surgery, her weight has reduced to 45kg. “We are expecting that the weight will reduce by 10 to 15 kg in next few weeks,” Dr Shah said. Dipika can now stand and walk on her own, which was not possible before the surgery, her owner Ms Daruwalla informed. To save pets from obesity, every owner should take proper care of their lifestyle. A proper diet and feeding schedule should be maintained, they should be taken for regular walks and most importantly one should ensure that the pet is happy in the environment.

The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 shares strong resemblance to the Panigale V4. HIGHLIGHTS IN its 2021 avatar, the Ducati SuperSport 950 renews its aesthetics, electronic equipment and enhanced features, as well as becoming compliant with BS6 emission norms. The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 is available in a Standard and S version. The SuperSport 950 made its global debut last year. Ducati India will introduce its 2021 edition of Supersport 950 in the country in September 2021. However, an exact launch date is yet to be announced. The Ducati SuperSport 950 was first introduced as a completely new product at the 2016 Intermot, and now in its 2021 avatar, it renews its aesthetics, electronic equipment and enhanced features, as well as becoming compliant with BS6 emission norms. Available in a standard and S version, the 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 made its global debut last year, and was supposed to reach our shores earlier this year, but with the pandemic, the launch got postponed, up until now. The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 receives new fairings designed by the Ducati Style Centre which give the bike more sportiness, dynamism, fluidity in shapes and a strong and decisive resemblance to the Panigale V4, together with the full-LED headlamp equipped with DRL. The profile of the SuperSport 950 is marked by air vents reminiscent of the double extractor of the Panigale V4 models, while the lower fairing now extends to the side silencer, hiding the mechanical components and visually recalling the track bikes. The windshield is new with the SuperSport 950, as it now creates a low streamlined and dynamic line. It is centrally connected to the tank bringing the body color into the cockpit, with a modern design that houses the new 4.3-inch full-TFT display. The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 is powered by the 937cc Ducati Testastretta 11° twin-cylinder unit that develops 110bhp @ 9,000rpm and 93Nm @6,500rpm of peak torque, coupled with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The 2021 SuperSport 950 also relies on the latest Ducati trellis frame, which uses the engine as a load-bearing element, combined with a single-sided aluminium swingarm. The front is equipped with a Marzocchi fork with 43mm diameter stanchions, the rear with a Sachs shock absorber. The Brembo brake system consists of M4-32 monobloc radial calipers that act on two 320mm diameter discs. At the rear, the new SuperSport 950 is equipped with a 245 mm diameter disc, with a Brembo two-piston caliper. The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 is fitted with three-spoke alloy wheels with a sporty “Y” design that fit the 120/70 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso III at the front and 180/55 ZR 17 at the rear. The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 is equipped with electronic controls based on information from Bosch's 6-axis inertial platform, capable of instantly detecting the bike's roll, yaw, and pitch angles in space. The electronic package consists of: Bosch Cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO, Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up / down EVO available on all versions, and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO. The Plexiglas, adjustable in height in two positions with a range of 50mm, allows the necessary protection from the air at motorway speeds. Ducati will offer the SuperSport 950 in Ducati Red fairing with Ducati Red frame and Glossy Black wheel rims.

The US military says it believes it has killed a planner for a branch of the Islamic State (IS) group in a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan. The suspected member of the IS-K group was targeted in Nangahar Province. IS-K said it had carried out an attack outside Kabul airport on Thursday that may have killed as many as 170 people, including 13 US troops. A mass airlift has been under way at the airport since Taliban militants overran the capital this month. In the past two weeks, more than 100,000 people are believed to have been evacuated, with the deadline set by the US for its forces to leave Afghanistan expiring on Tuesday. President Joe Biden promised on Friday to hunt down the jihadists behind Thursday's suicide bombing. IS-K, or Islamic State Khorasan Province, is the most extreme and violent of all the jihadist militant groups in Afghanistan. Who are the group claiming the Kabul airport attack? Ministers pledge support for left-behind Afghans The blast tore through crowds of men, women and children outside Kabul airport. Dozens of Afghans trying to leave the country were killed. In addition to the US personnel killed, two British nationals and the child of a British national were among the dead. "We will not forgive, we will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Mr Biden warned the perpetrators on Friday. He said another attack in Kabul was likely in the coming days. Roughly 5,000 US troops are still stationed at Kabul airport, processing Afghans desperate to leave. "We are providing swift passage to every foreigner to leave Afghanistan in the next 48 hours," an unnamed Western official told Reuters news agency. Taliban officials say they have taken control of parts of the airport but the US says its forces are still in charge. The US said "initial indications" suggested no civilians had been killed in the drone attack, the first reported in Afghanistan since Thursday's blast. "The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target," said Captain Bill Urban of Central Command. "We know of no civilian casualties." American officials have issued a new warning to US citizens to stay away from the airport's gates in case of further attacks.

By: uahmed920

Lionel Andres Messi Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini (Spanish pronunciation born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Often considered the best player in the world and regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record-tying five Ballon d'Or awards,four of which he won consecutively, and a record five European Golden Shoes. He has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he has won a club-record 32 trophies, including nine La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and six Copas del Rey. Both a prolific goalscorer and a creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most goals scored in La Liga , a La Liga season , a club football season in Europe , a calendar year , El Clásico , most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League , as well as those for most assists in La Liga and the Copa América . He has scored over 670 senior career goals for club and country. Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child. At age 13, he relocated to Spain to join Barcelona, who agreed to pay for his medical treatment. After a fast progression through Barcelona's youth academy, Messi made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004. Despite being injury-prone during his early career, he established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, finishing 2007 as a finalist for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award, a feat he repeated the following year. His first uninterrupted campaign came in the 2008–09 season, during which he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. At 22 years old, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award by record voting margins. Three successful seasons followed, with Messi winning three consecutive FIFA Ballons d'Or, including an unprecedented fourth. During the 2011–12 season, he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season, while establishing himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer in official competitions in March 2012. The following two seasons, Messi finished twice second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, his perceived career rival. Messi regained his best form during the 2014–15 campaign, breaking the all-time goalscoring records in both La Liga and the Champions League in November 2014,and leading Barcelona to a historic second treble. An Argentine international, Messi is his country's all-time leading goalscorer. At youth level, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, finishing the tournament with both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who declared the teenager his successor. After making his senior debut in August 2005, Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup during the 2006 edition, and reached the final of the 2007 Copa América, where he was named young player of the tournament. As the squad's captain from August 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals: the 2014 World Cup, for which he won the Golden Ball, and the 2015 and 2016 Copas América. After announcing his international retirement in 2016, he reversed his decision and led his country to qualification for the 2018 World Cup. Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, the third of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. On his father's side, he is of Italian and Spanish descent, the great-grandson of immigrants from the north central Adriatic Marche region of Italy and Catalonia, and on his mother's side, he has primarily Italian ancestry.Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a passion for the sport from an early age, playing constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers.At the age of four he joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached by his father, though his earliest influence as a player came from his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training and matches.He was greatly affected by her death, shortly before his eleventh birthday; since then, as a devout Catholic, he has celebrated his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky in tribute of his grandmother.A lifelong supporter of Newell's Old Boys, Messi joined the Rosario club when he was six years old. During the six years he played for Newell's, he scored almost 500 goals as a member of "The Machine of '87", the near-unbeatable youth side named for the year of their birth, and regularly entertained crowds by performing ball tricks during half-time of the first team's home games.However, his future as a professional player was threatened when, at age 10, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. As his father's health insurance covered only two years of growth hormone treatment, which cost at least $1,000 per month, Newell's agreed to contribute, but later reneged on their promise.He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Plate, whose playmaker, Pablo Aimar, he idolised, but they were also unable to pay for his treatment due to the country's economic collapse.His goal scoring idol growing up was Ronaldo, with Messi calling him “the best forward I’ve ever seen”.As the Messi family had relatives in Catalonia, they sought to arrange a trial with Barcelona in September 2000. First team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted to sign him, but the board of directors hesitated; at the time it was highly unusual for European clubs to sign foreign players of such a young age. On 14 December, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment, and Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered a contract on a paper napkin.In February 2001, the family relocated to Barcelona, where they moved into an apartment near the club's stadium, Camp Nou. During his first year in Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer conflict with Newell's; as a foreigner, he could only be fielded in friendlies and the Catalan league. Without football, he struggled to integrate into the team; already reserved by nature, he was so quiet that his teammates initially believed he was mute. At home, he suffered from homesickness after his mother moved back to Rosario with his brothers and little sister, María Sol, while he stayed in Barcelona with his father.After a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was finally enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in February 2002. Now playing in all competitions, he befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué.After completing his growth hormone treatment aged 14,Messi became an integral part of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever youth side. During his first full season (2002–03), he was top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games for the Cadetes A, who won an unprecedented treble of the league and both the Spanish and Catalan cups.The Copa Catalunya final, a 4–1 victory over Espanyol, became known in club lore as the partido de la máscara, the final of the mask. A week after suffering a broken cheekbone during a league match, Messi was allowed to start the game on the condition that he wear a plastic protector; soon hindered by the mask, he took it off and scored two goals in 10 minutes before his substitution.At the close of the season, he received an offer to join Arsenal, his first from a foreign club, but while Fàbregas and Piqué soon left for England, he chose to remain in Barcelona.

Kolkata: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar seeking his intervention in MLA Mukul Roy's appointment as the chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), maintaining that norms were not followed. Adhikari stated that Roy, who switched over to the ruling TMC after winning the assembly polls on a BJP ticket, should no longer be considered a member of the saffron camp, and his elevation as PAC chairman defies the well-established norm of appointing an opposition leader to the post. Claiming that the TMC wants to be its own judge, Adhikari alleged that the ruling party has ensured that its member gets chosen as the chief of PAC a panel that keeps a tab on government expenses to hide "questionable" pursuits. "We met the governor and sought his intervention as he is the custodian of the Constitution," Adhikari, who led a delegation of BJP MLAs to Raj Bhavan, told reporters. Earlier in the day, eight BJP MLAs resigned as heads of Assembly panels in protest against Roy's appointment. The leader of opposition further said that his party wishes to meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submit memoranda "describing how democracy is being throttled by the TMC in West Bengal with post-poll violence and unfair practices in the assembly". He pointed out that Roy's name did not figure in the list of six MLAs given by the BJP for the PAC chairman's post. The BJP had been seeking disqualification of Roy as a legislator under the anti-defection law, arguing that he changes sides after his election to the assembly. Adhikari said that the hearing of the BJP's application for Roy's disqualification is scheduled to be held before the Speaker on 16 July. Claiming that the by-polls should not be conducted in the state until the process of vaccination is over, the BJP leader said the TMC, however, is "worried" as Banerjee needs to get elected to the assembly to retain the CM's chair. Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Nandigram by 1,956 votes, according to the Election Commission. Banerjee has moved a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging Adhikari's win.

A recent appeal made by actor Darshan Thoogudeepa on behalf of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) has resulted in zoos across the state now beaming with delight and hope after they were hit by a financial crunch due to the ongoing Covid crisis. The funds raised through donations and adoption of animals in the past week alone have surpassed Rs 1 crore, as per estimates shared by the officials. ZAK has managed to raise a whopping Rs 1,00,47,900 from June 5 to 10, which is in stark contrast to the Rs 17,96,700 collected from July 29, 2020 to June 4, 2021. The sudden hike amounts to 559 per cent of the same collected across nine months before this year’s World Environment Day. In a video released on June 5, Thoogudeepa, po[CENSORED]rly referred to as ‘Challenging Star’ in the Kannada film industry, had pointed out that the Covid crisis adversely impacted the animal world, similar to how humankind was hit. “There are about 5,000 animals in nine zoos across the state whose lives are also impacted due to the fall in revenue due to Covid-related crisis and restrictions. People can donate or even adopt an animal in the zoo by signing up to pay for their annual expenses spent towards food and maintenance, apart from paying their caretakers,” the actor urged to his fans and the general public. Explaining the impact of the same, a senior forest official who wished not to be named in a bid to “not take credit for himself” told The Indian Express that various fans’ groups of the actor were seen to be initiating the drive. “Soon, it was picked by others and the ‘Zoos of Karnataka’ application was downloaded by nearly 50,000 people in quick succession. While donations worth Rs 43 lakh were made in the first two days itself, it has been growing ever since,” the official said. He added that the actor’s readiness to shoot the video appeal, to ensure that the script was tweaked to make it more natural, and to acknowledge donors and adopters by thanking them online helped them “come a long way than what was initially expected.” Among the adopters were fan pages, troll page-admins, and co-stars from the industry, most of whom were thanked individually on social media by Thoogudeepa. Upendra, another actor from the industry adopted an African elephant at the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru. He then issued a statement that read, “As per challenging star Darshan’s call, we have adopted an African elephant and joined hands with him in his noble cause.” Further, Forest Minister Arvind Limbavali acknowledged the actor’s contribution towards fuelling the fundraiser with his appeal. “This has resulted in a record number of animal adoptions and donations towards the zoos. His (Darshan’s) concerns towards the welfare of our zoo animals are highly appreciable,” he said. Limbavalli has also thanked nearly 4000 people who made donations and became adopters to help the zoos and their inmates amid the Covid crisis. Most zoos in the state are self-sustained and are run majorly using gate revenue (entry tickets), which saw a significant dip due to the Covid-19 situation since March 2020, the ZAK official noted. “The annual maintenance cost for the zoos together are estimated to be at Rs 60 crore with daily expenditure towards maintenance calculated to be between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh,” the official stated.

HIGHLIGHTS Khel Ratna Awardee Dr. Deepa Malik will humanize the voice of the personal AI assistant in the upcoming MG Astor SUV. The MG Astor is the ICE-derivative of the MG ZS EV, which currently retails in India. We expect MG Motor to launch the upcoming MG Astor during the coming festive season. MG Motor India aims to deliver a unique voice experience with a personal AI assistant in the upcoming MG Astor SUV. The British automaker announced that the voice would be powered by Paralympic athlete and Khel Ratna Awardee Dr. Deepa Malik, who will humanize the voice of the personal AI assistant in the upcoming MG Astor SUV. The MG Astor is the ICE-derivative of the MG ZS EV, which currently retails in India. We expect MG Motor to launch the upcoming MG Astor during the coming festive season. Deepa Malik said, “I am delighted to be the voice of the next MG SUV. I have closely followed MG’s journey in India, and I applaud their vision. MG has not only led the disruption in the automotive industry, but it has contributed to the empowerment of different sections of society. It is commendable that MG’s one-third of the active workforce is women. I am confident that MG will emerge as a champion with the industry-leading features of Astor.” Rajeev Chaba, president & MD, MG Motor India said, “Having Deepa Malik, a woman of many firsts, as a voice for Astor, is in line with our commitment to both community and diversity. Deepa is the epitome of women empowerment and her voice in Astor is a message for everyone to be unstoppable.” The MG Astor will be the first vehicle in its class to be equipped with Autonomous Level 2 technology. It is powered by mid-range radars and a multi-purpose camera that performs a series of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), which include Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Rear Drive Assist (RDA) and Speed Assist System amongst others.

Researchers say they are seeing some waning of protection against Covid infections in double-jabbed people. The real-world study includes data on positive Covid PCR test results between May and July 2021 among more than a million people who had received two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine. Protection after two shots of Pfizer decreased from 88% at one month to 74% at five to six months. For AstraZeneca, the fall was from 77% to 67% at four to five months. Waning protection is to be expected, say experts. Although some breakthrough infections may be happening, vaccines are still doing a very good job at protecting people against severe Covid illness and deaths. Vaccines saving lives Public Health England estimates that around 84,600 deaths and 23 million infections have been prevented as a result of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in England so far. Prof Tim Spector, lead investigator on the Zoe Covid Study app behind the research, said the findings could explain recent breakthrough infections that some fully vaccinated people have been reporting. Covid vaccines still effective against Delta variant How many Covid cases are there in my area? Prof Spector said: "Waning protection is to be expected and is not a reason to not get vaccinated. "Vaccines still provide high levels of protection for the majority of the po[CENSORED]tion, especially against the Delta variant, so we still need as many people as possible to get fully vaccinated." He estimates that protection against infection could drop to 50% by the winter and boosters will be needed, but other experts urge caution about making predictions for the months ahead. The UK is expected to begin offering some people a third Covid booster jab next month, but is waiting for recommendations from an independent advisory body called the JCVI which is looking at evidence to support a decision. Prof Spector said: "Many people may not need them. Many people may have had a natural booster because they've already had a natural Covid infection, so will effectively have had three vaccines. "So I think the whole thing needs to be much more carefully managed than just giving it to everybody which would be a huge waste and ethically dubious given the resources we have. I think we need a more targeted approach than last time." This study once again illustrates why we need to get used to Covid circulating - this is not a virus that's going to go away. The vaccines do not work like they do for measles which provide life-long immunity. Immunity against Covid was always expected to wane. And another factor to consider is that repeated exposure to the virus is likely to increase the risk of a breakthrough infection - the increased likelihood over time of infection post-jabbing may not be all related to waning immunity. Whatever the cause though, experts have been clear we should expect to be repeatedly infected over our lifetimes. The important thing is that each re-infection should be milder as the vaccines remain highly effective at preventing serious illness. What the vaccines have effectively done is taken the edge off the virus - given our immune system a head-start so those early infections are milder than they would have been for most. What's not clear yet is the merits of offering the most vulnerable a booster jab. It is likely to be a fine judgement call because there are so many unknowns - although the expectation is some will be offered it. Dr Simon Clarke, an expert in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said infection levels in the community would alter a person's chance of encountering and catching Covid at any given time, making it hard to draw firm conclusions about waning immunity. Dr Alexander Edwards, also from the University of Reading, said it was important to understand when booster doses might be needed and for whom. "Vaccination does not, unsurprisingly, make people invulnerable, and does not prevent all infections. Variants have real and significant impact on public health, and a lot of people are still tragically dying in the UK from this nasty virus. "The vaccines we have are remarkably safe and effective, and still remain far better than other vaccines that give massive benefits." He added: "We must pro-actively plan our public health strategy to account for imperfect protection, and for the possibility of falling protection over time." 'Watch carefully' A similar study was published by the Office for National Statistics and the Oxford Vaccine Group last week. Based on PCR test results from nearly 400,000 people who had been infected with the Delta variant in the UK, it found two doses of the Pfizer vaccine was initially more than 90% effective against symptomatic Covid infection, compared with around 70% for the AstraZeneca vaccine. But over the course of three months, the protection from Pfizer fell significantly whereas immunity with the AstraZeneca jab remained more stable. Prof Adam Finn, a government vaccine adviser, said other studies had shown that the vaccines maintained good protection against serious illness and hospitalisation. But he said: "We do need to watch out very carefully to see if this waning against milder disease begins to translate into occurrence of more severe cases because then boosters will be needed."

Lara Croft is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game franchise Tomb Raider. She is presented as a highly intelligent, athletic, and beautiful English archaeologist who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around the world. Created by a team at British developer Core Design that included Toby Gard, the character first appeared in the video game Tomb Raider in 1996. Core Design handled initial development of the character and the series. Inspired by Neneh Cherry and comic book character Tank Girl, Gard designed Lara Croft to counter stereotypical female characters. The company modified the character for subsequent titles, which included graphical improvements and gameplay additions. American developer Crystal Dynamics took over the series after the 2003 sequel Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness was received poorly. The new developer rebooted the character along with the video game series. The company altered her physical proportions, and gave her additional ways of interacting with game environments. Croft has been voiced by six actresses in the video game series: Shelley Blond (1996), Judith Gibbins (1997–98), Jonell Elliott (1999–2003), Keeley Hawes (2006–14), Camilla Luddington (2013–present), and Abigail Stahlschmidt (2015). Lara Croft has further appeared in video game spin-offs, printed adaptations, a series of animated short films, feature films, and merchandise related to the series. Promotion of the character includes a brand of apparel and accessories, action figures, and model portrayals. She has been licensed for third-party promotion, including television and print advertisements, music-related appearances, and as a spokesmodel. Critics consider Lara Croft a significant game character in po[CENSORED]r culture. She holds six Guinness World Records, has a strong fan following, and is among the first video game characters to be successfully adapted to film.Lara Croft is also considered a sex symbol, one of the earliest in the industry to achieve widespread attention. The character's influence in the industry has been a point of contention among critics; viewpoints range from a positive agent of change in video games to a negative role model for young girls.

Sangrur: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday categorically said that his government and party leadership would work unitedly towards steering Congress to victory in the ensuing Assembly elections. While interacting with the media after dedicating Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial to people in Sangrur during a state-level function on the 82nd martyrdom of great revolutionary, the chief minister said that right now the party position is good and the same has to be further consolidated till elections. On the issue of organising roadshows in the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections, the chief minister said there were no such plans so far amid COVD-19, which is at present under control. He, however, said that he will act according to the advice of medical experts on this count. Replying to another question about two power centres in the Congress party, the chief minister said that there was nothing unusual as Navjot Singh Sidhu in the capacity of PPCC president and he as chief minister are performing two different sets of responsibilities. Captain Amarinder Singh said that he also remained PPCC president thrice and knew well about the duties of the party president. Moreover, the government and the Party are two different entities having defined roles. Asked to comment on Sidhu not mentioning either his (chief minister), Rahul or Priyanka's name in his address during the installation ceremony as PPCC president, Singh said that it is hardly any issue and doesn't affect him at all. Answering to another query about Sidhu's frequent meetings with party leaders and MLAs, the chief minister said that it's the duty of the party president to strengthen the organisational structure which could only be possible by keeping close liaison with the rank and file of the party. He said that the party and government should work as a team since the Assembly elections are just six months away. Singh pointed out that the government would endeavour to live up the aspirations of the people while the party president is duty-bound to push the party forward in the political field. Asked to spell out the roadmap for the upcoming Assembly polls, Captain Amarinder Singh said that his government had already fulfilled 93 percent of the poll promises made in the election manifesto and would soon go up to 95 percent. He also mentioned that prior to his government, Chandra Babu Naidu's government in Andhra Pradesh had previously made a record by accomplishing 83 percent of poll promises. He said that 5 percent of the remaining promises are left only due to the GST regime because when their party drafted the manifesto there was the system of VAT, not the prevailing GST. On the issue of 18 point agenda given by the Kharge Committee, the Punjab chief minister said that there was some confusion in this regard as his government had already implemented several points of this agenda and the remaining others would be accomplished soon. The chief minister said that he had already apprised both Sonia Gandhi and Kharge on this issue in their meeting. Ruling out any possibility of an immediate Cabinet reshuffle, Captain Amarinder Singh, however, said that he would surely discuss this issue with party high command during his visit to Delhi.

It’s a weapon that has been used since time immemorial by nearly every animal species including us, with devastating effect. Animals have used it on their own kind — and even on us, and we fall victim to it nearly every single time. And there’s a very simple reason why — it has survival value. It’s the terrible “cuteness” bomb, which can reduce leathery boors to warm globs of sweet goo. The moment they confront a toothless, gurgling baby, extending its chubby arms towards them, its eyes enormous, its smile innocent, the deed is done! It needn’t be a human baby — a puppy or a kitten or an orangutan, bunny or tiger cub will do just as well, though maybe the line could be drawn at naked mole rat babies! If this is the effect that the C-bomb can have on iron men, you can imagine what it does to inherently tender-hearted women? Sure there are people who cringe at the mention of the “C” word and researchers working in animal labs who try to blank out its effects by giving their subjects hard cold numbers instead of names, as they conduct some of their experiments. Some say that we, human beings, recognise cuteness from around the age of three. Through our social interactions with parents and society around us, we learn to recognise what is thought to be cute and what is not. That’s why your one-year-old toddler will happily put a slug into her mouth — not knowing that it is let us say “un-cute” (and probably tastes horrible), while your nine-year old will scream at the sight of one! So, it seems to be, at least among the baby fraternity, survival of the cutest. But I’m still not too sure if the cuteness bomb works as well in the animal community. Does a tigress favour the cutest in her litter, or simply the fittest? Usually, the runt in the litter is, if anything, cuter than its big bully siblings and evokes the most empathy because it is more helpless. But a tiger mom might just ignore her wobbly little weakling, sensing its chances of survival are minimal. Yet, watch a tiger mom lovingly lick her tiny cubs and you’ll begin to wonder again. Like a nuclear device there are two distinct hard-wired effects the cuteness bomb has when it detonates. The first is instant — the need to protect the helpless squalling baby (animal or human) which is making those huge bug eyes at you, to take it into your arms and swear to protect it with your life. The second is the fallout — you begin to think about caring for the squalling, peeing, pooping, drooling, sleeping, gurgling tiny tot on a long-term basis. All of which spells parenting.

HIGHLIGHTS Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS priced at Rs 16.95 lakh ex-showroom. Weighs 10kg less than the outgoing bike at 198kg. Makes 180bhp and 125Nm of peak torque. Flagship streetfighters are evolving so fast alongside their faired siblings, that almost every year we’re rewriting the rule book on the parameters of what gives a motorcycle that the flagship tag. A minute ago, the norm was a litre class supersport came alongside the flagship streetfighter with 130-150bhp on tap. Now with the likes of the Italian’s and the Swedes pushing the envelope of displacement with their almost 1200cc 200bhp+ streetfighter, the 1050cc Speed Triple was beginning to look a little bland. The resultant pushback from the boys at Hinckley is this, the new Triumph Speed Triple 1200cc that will be sold in a single RS trim. The essence of the formula hasn’t changed much, but underneath, this new 1200cc Speed is an all-new motorcycle. 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS review: Design 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS review:The new graphics kit adds to the Speed’s fresh appeal, although the colour theme does vary according to the colour package, This red on black on the Sapphire Black is understated and classy. There’s so much change under the skin, it’s hard to wrap your head around how Triumph have managed to ensure that the sum of all these new parts add up to create a motorcycle that is instantly recognizable as a Speed Triple. The familiar bug-eyed headlamps are still there but in this generation, they are slimmer and LED, with those sharp boomerang DRLs. The fuel tank too has gained some sinew, and this time around features graphics that run along the knee recess’. Being an RS badged motorcycle, the new 2021 Speed Triple also gets a carbon fibre mudguard and a body-coloured belly pan. The Sapphire Black paint scheme on our test bike is understatedly beautiful. Material quality too is exceptional all around, even before you touch tarmac with the Speed Triple, it feels flagship. The instruments are displayed via a 5.5-inch TFT screen which also allows riders to interface with their mobile phones and GoPros using the MyTriumph connectivity suite. Triumph’s TFT interface does stand out in terms of UX and harsh light legibility. Another flex for the 2021 Speed Triple is the full keyless system, which includes keyless ignition, an auto-steering lock as well as a fuel filler cap.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58309026 As more people in the US are asked to prove they have been vaccinated in order to work, study or socialise, a flourishing black market in fake vaccination cards has sprung up. But what can be done to tackle it? The operator behind "Covid19vaccinecardsss" took just seconds to reply. One of a slew of Instagram accounts hawking fake proof of Covid-19 vaccination cards, whoever was running the page was eager to sell, inviting the BBC to move over to an encrypted messaging app to make a deal. For $100 (£70), the vendor would deliver a "registered" card, with either the logo of the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) or Britain's National Health Service. Payment could be made in Apple Pay or Bitcoin and delivery would be "discrete" and within 24 hours, they promised. "Your cards will be saved into the database system," they told the BBC. "[These are] very good original vaccine cards, no worries." As the Delta variant of coronavirus sweeps the US, businesses, universities and cities such as New York and San Francisco have introduced vaccine mandates to boost uptake of jabs. But vaccine hesitancy remains high and a cottage industry for bogus inoculation cards has emerged to help people get around the rules. Fakes have been sold on platforms from eBay to Whatsapp and there have been high profile busts, with warnings that counterfeiters and buyers could face jail. Yet users, authorities and many others are sceptical that the use of false cards can be stopped. Jennifer is head bartender at the busy Peculiar Pub in Greenwich Village, New York, where customers must show proof of vaccination in order to enter as part of a citywide mandate affecting bars, gyms and other indoor venues. No one's raised her suspicions yet but she thinks it will be "really hard" to spot fake vaccination documents, which in New York can take the form of a paper card from the health authorities or merely a photo of that card. "As long as it's printed and you can just write a date, how am I going to know the person that injected you and where you got it? There are hundreds and thousands of vaccination sites in the US, people can come to your home now to give you the vaccine." Counterfeiters appear to be doing brisk business. Last week, customs officials in Memphis, Tennessee and Anchorage, Alaska seized 6,000 false vaccination cards in separate shipments from China destined for recipients across the US. They were printed with the CDC logo and closely resembled the genuine cards given to US citizens when they get vaccinated. However, when officials looked closer they noticed spelling mistakes and poor printing quality.

While the iPad is undoubtedly the all-conquering best tablet range right now, without the best iPad apps it's basically just a souped-up Chromebook. Nobody wants that - so we're here to help you, whether you want the best iPad Pro apps to make use of the Apple Pencil, the best iPad mini apps to work on a smaller screen or just something to reivigorate your time with a tablet. We've spent hundreds of hours testing the best free and paid-for iPad apps, and have helpfully split them into multiple categories on the following pages to let you browse for what you actually need. Of course, if you need a better iPad, our list of the best iPads around is there for you too - but if you've just been given a new tablet, then these are the titles that you need to be checking out - starting with our favorite new app this week. Oh, and if you're looking for something fun, then we've also rounded up the best iPad games you can download right now. Looking for an upgrade? Check out the best cheap iPad deals available now Voxel Max is a pro-grade app for creating voxel art - essentially, pixel art in 3D. So instead of carefully placing pixels on a flat canvas, you plot cubes in a 256×256×256-pixel build area. Although compatible with iPhone, the Voxel Max experience revels in the iPad’s extra screen acres. You get more room to view and mani[CENSORED]te your creation, and Apple Pencil support for when getting all painterly with shaped brushes (spheres; larger cubes) rather than adding individual cubes one at a time. For professional illustrators, there are plenty of tools to dig into, including non-destructive transforms and face extrusions. But newcomers should find the app quite welcoming too, with its online help center and pre-built models to experiment with. These are the best photo editing apps you can download right now

John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, and rapper. He is signed to WWE, where he appears for both the Raw and SmackDown brands. Considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time by his peers, Cena was born and raised in West Newbury, Massachusetts, but moved to California in 1998, where he pursued a career as a bodybuilder, before transitioning into professional wrestling after debuting for Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) in 1999. Cena soon signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 2000. In WWE, Cena gained industry fame after adopting a persona of a villainous trash-talking rapper,and won his first singles title, the United States Championship, in 2004. After winning the WWE Championship a year later, Cena's character transitioned into a heroic "goody-two shoes Superman", and subsequently led the company as its franchise player and public face for the next decade , gaining mainstream fame in the process. Cena has headlined several major WWE pay-per-view events, closing the company's flagship annual event, WrestleMania, five times. He has also won several championships in his career, being a five-time U.S. champion, a four-time world tag team champion, and a sixteen-time world champion, a WWE record.He is also a two-time Royal Rumble match winner, and a Money in the Bank ladder match winner. Despite his success, Cena is regularly met with mixed critical reception, with perceived criticisms against his in-ring move set and character limitations, thus making him one of the most polarizing professional wrestlers ever.Outside of wrestling, Cena has attained success as a musician, actor, and philanthropist. He released the rap album You Can't See Me in 2005, which gained platinum certification in the United States. He has had leading film roles in The Marine (2006), 12 Rounds (2009), Trainwreck (2015), Ferdinand (2017), Blockers (2018), and Bumblebee (2018). He is also known for his involvement in numerous charitable causes, namely the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he has granted more than 500 wishes, the most in company history