Price of bourbon and Levi's to soar as EU hits back at US

The list of US products hit includes bourbon whiskey, cranberries, cosmetics, motorbikes, orange juice and jeans.

Argentina fallout and latest news on day nine: World Cup 2018

The Brazil defender Danilo has been ruled out of Friday’s Group E game with a thigh problem and will be replaced by Corinthians right-back Fagner, the Brazilian Football Confederation said on Thursday.

Danilo, who was promoted to a starting role after Dani Alves pulled out of the squad with an injury in May, tweaked his right thigh during training, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said.

Brazil face Costa Rica in St Petersburg needing a win after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opening game. The Costa Ricans lost their first group match 1-0 to Serbia.

Brazil named Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva as captain for the match in a continuation of their long-standing policy of rotating the team leadership.

He last wore the armband during a 1-0 defeat by Argentina in June, that friendly loss in Australia being the only defeat suffered by coach Tite’s Brazil in the last 22 games.

Valmiki

Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is an epic poem of India which narrates the journey of Virtue to annihilate vice. Sri Rama is the Hero and aayana His journey. We in India believe that Sri Rama lived in Treta Yug, millennia BC and we are presently concerned with what Srimad Valmiki Ramayana tells us, rather than when it was told.

This epic poem Ramayana is a smriti which is translated as "from memory". Given the antiquity of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, there have been some interjected verses. Sometimes these verses can be contradicting. However, scholars, grammarians, historians have put lot of effort to standardize the original text, by verifying various manuscripts available from various parts of India, thus trying to stabilize and save the text from further contradictions. An example of this effort is the critical edition of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana. This site aims to study various versions of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana and arrive at a version of Ramayana that is most relevant to modern times.

Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is composed of verses called Sloka, in Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language from India and a complex meter called Anustup. These verses are grouped into individual chapters called Sargas, wherein a specific event or intent is told. These chapters or sargas are grouped into books called Kaandas where Kaanda means the inter-node stem of sugar cane, or also a particular phase of the story or an event in the course of story telling.

At 69, Amitabh Bachchan logs on to his fan base

Superstar, megastar, star of the millennium...Amitabh Bachchan has been given many epithets in his four-decade long career in Bollywood. And the actor, who turns 69 Tuesday, is now trying to harness the online medium to reach out to the very people who showered these accolades on him - his fans.
Whether it's Twitter, his blog or his voice blog, Amitabh is on a mission to connect with as many people as possible.

After starting his blog in 2008, the Big B went on to start his voice blog called Bol Bachchan in 2010. He later joined micro-blogging site Twitter. Amitabh says connecting with common people has helped him learn a lot.

"I think the social sites like the blog and Twitter are absolutely fabulous because they give you a chance to put your thoughts down and immediately get a response," Amitabh told IANS in an interview.

"So in case you're going wrong, you have the time to correct yourself, and in case you are right, you get an endorsement that you're doing something correct. Most of the times, the opinions we get from people are brilliant...It's learning for me," he added.

An avid blogger, Amitabh has regularly been sharing his personal and professional experiences with what he calls his "extended family". Be it information about his ailments or the soon-to-be-a-granddad status, he keeps everyone up-to-date with the latest in his life.

"When those that connect with me on the mobile or on the hot seat and express their happiness of merely getting the opportunity to talk to me or to be in the same environ, it embarrasses me. But somewhere I feel happy at the justification," Amitabh wrote on his blog.

"For it is not something that brings me the joy of justification. It is the justification of the joy that I see in the eyes of the other. That for me is the moment of glory, if ever it could be called that," he added.

Amitabh started his Bollywood career in 1969 with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas' "Saat Hindustani", but it was 1973 film "Zanjeer" that actually kick-started his film journey. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Amitabh's stint on game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" has brought him closer to the people of real India. The latest season of the show sees a lot of contestants from the disadvantaged groups, for whom meeting their screen idol is a dream come true.

The actor leaves no stone unturned to make his contestants feel special on the show. He happily obliges their demands and fulfilof s their wishes in whichever way he can.

Amitabh admits he is inspired by the way these contestants delightfully make things work despite adverse circumstances.

"To learn of their struggles and their pains in making ends meet, to experience the efforts that they make despite adverse circumstances to reach out to those dependent on them, to touch upon subjects that we would in our normal existence be overlooked is not just enlightening but one that is filled with a huge amount of guilt. Guilt at not being able to do something for them," said Amitabh.

Skoda Rapid

Skoda Rapid entry level sedan segment in the Rs. 5.5 - 7 lakh price range for Indian car market soon..
Skoda Auto, the Czech carmaker looks at India as a key growth driver in time to come. At a press meet, Chairman of the Board of Management, Dr H.C. Winfried Vahland spoke about investing heavily in emerging nations wherein India, China and Russia would be top priority. He also mentioned that while Europe is responsible for 60% of Skoda sales as of now, this share would fall to 40% by 2018 as other economies start contributing more. This will work in tandem with aiding Skoda attain their global goal of 1.5 million cars by 2018.

In 2011, Skoda looks at selling eight lakh cars globally. In the meantime, Volkswagen aims to be the world's largest automaker in 2018. As such, Skoda's plans to improve, will contribute to VW's set goal. Skoda is hopeful about China and India where they have a longish track record, and will tread carefully in a Brazil, which is a new market for them.

Skoda looks forward to a launch every six months. The Skoda Rapid that went into production at the Chakan facility volumes plant near Pune this Friday will soon launch as an entry level sedan segment in the Rs. 5.5-7 lakh price range in the Indian car market. The plant is used for production of VW and Skoda cars that are manufactured on a common platform, which includes the Polo/Fabia and Vento/Rapid. It is in Aurangabad, at their 'variety plant' that top-end Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda variants are produced.

The Skoda Rapid sedan will be introduced in Europe and China during 2012-13, and shares the Volkswagen (VW) Vento platform, and well bear a lower price in keeping with overall strategy between both auto companies.

Member of the Board of Management (Sales and Marketing), Mr Jurgen Stackmann says the Skoda Rapid is a big step in the automakers quest to building a bigger brand in India. It is the small and compact car segment that Skoda will focus on in India, and the Rapid in the upper compact segment sets them off.

The Skoda sub four meter compact Citigo was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. There is no clarity as and when it may reach the Indian car market. It is the VW's Up that will grace the Indian car market first, and the Skoda Citigo, which will be launched in Europe first could come to India later in 2012. In September 2011, Skoda India registered a growth rate of 12.75%.

We are not responsible if oppn is benefited: Kejriwal

Maintaining that they are not campaigning for any party in the Hisar election, Arvind Kejriwal has said Team Anna should not be held responsible if their movement in any way benefits the opposition and dismissed as "absurd" talk of Hazare nursing an ambition to become President.

"We are fighting for systemic changes. We are not campaigning for anyone or asking voters to vote for a particular candidate. We are not responsible if opposition is benefited. It is the Congress which is responsible for this.

"If they make an announcement (about bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill) today, we will withdraw our entire campaign against them," he told reporters here last evening.

Besides Kejriwal, who hails from Hisar in Haryana, other members of Team Anna including Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia addressed public gatherings asking people to refrain from voting for Congress for its "failure" to bring their Bill in Parliament.

Reacting to Congress leader Digvijay Singh's remarks that Hazare wants to become the President, Kejriwal said, "There is no truth in the claims that Anna wants to become President of India. This is completely absurd..complete bunkum".

Kejriwal stressed that people of Hisar should not confine their choice to just two or three candidates in the fray, but choose from 39 other non-Congress candidates who are contesting.

Though it's a triangular contest for the Hisar seat, with Congress' Jai Prakash, HJC-BJP's Kuldeep Bishnoi and INLD's Ajay Singh Chautala in the fray, there are other candidates who are fighting including those from smaller parties and independents.We are not responsible if oppn is benefited: Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal also maintained that Team Anna is not campaigning for any party in the Hisar election,

HISAR: Maintaining that they are not campaigning for any party in the Hisar election, Arvind Kejriwal has said Team Anna should not be held responsible if their movement in any way benefits the opposition and dismissed as "absurd" talk of Hazare nursing an ambition to become President.

"We are fighting for systemic changes. We are not campaigning for anyone or asking voters to vote for a particular candidate. We are not responsible if opposition is benefited. It is the Congress which is responsible for this.

"If they make an announcement (about bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill) today, we will withdraw our entire campaign against them," he told reporters here last evening.

Advani heads for 2014 polls, starts Jan Chetna Yatra

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar flagged of BJP leader LK Advani's yatra against corruption today from Jai Prakash Narayan's village in the state. Advani's 12,000-km campaign against corruption--a journey many see as an attempt to be his party's candidate for the PM's post in 2014.
The plan was to flag off the yatra from Sitab Diara but the venue was moved to Chhapra in view of the bad road condition and waterlogging.

Advani, accompanied by Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively, arrived by a chartered plane. He is scheduled to address a public meeting at Chapra and proceed by road to Patna where he would be addressing another rally in the evening.

During his yatra, Advani would stay in Bihar for two days and would be addressing meetings at Ara and Buxar on Wednesday before leaving for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who would flag off the yatra, has lauded Advani for his endeavour which, he believes, would raise public consciousness about large-scale corruption in the country and bring back black money locked up in foreign banks.

Advani plans to cover around 300 km a day in his special rath or modified bus during his 12,000-km campaign called Jan Chetna Yatra. The yatra will mobilise public opinion on electoral and judicial reforms, black money and scams faced by the UPA government. It will begin from the birth place of Jayaprakash Narayan at Sitab Diara village on the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border.

On Monday, Advani avoided ruling out his candidature for the prime minister’s post in the run-up to the next Lok Sabha elections due in 2014. “Who will be the prime ministerial candidate; the party will decide when the polls come. It is still more than two years away. However, the government is functioning in a manner that it seems it can fall any time,” he said at a press conference.

After intense speculation that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh wanted him to bow out of the race for the top post, Advani, 83, has not done so unequivocally.

The BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance seem to be gathering around Advani after reportedly being concerned about his intentions. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who skipped the BJP's two-day national executive in Delhi recently and is seen as a leading prime ministerial candidate for 2014, said working with Advani is an "honour".

"I had the honour of having worked in very close proximity with Advani ji. It is extremely unfortunate and condemnable that some vested interests are spreading rumours about him," said Modi in his blog on Monday

Aishwarya goes out with Ma and Pa

Aishwarya was spotted with Jaya and Amitabh during the launch of a devotional album.

No more roaming charges!

Telecom minister Kapil Sibal unveiled the draft National Telecoms Policy 2011, containing new rules for the sector. This new policy would replace the existing framework that has been in place since 1999.

In a move that could help ease pressure on big carriers that have been rapidly adding users to increasingly crowded airwaves, India's new telecoms policy will allow carriers to share and trade spectrum.

The draft plan also advocates one nation, one license across services and service areas; this would imply that roaming charges would soon be done away with.

The policy proposes to introduce a stronger customer grievance redressal mechanism, recognize telecoms as an infrastructure sector giving it tax concessions, and extend preferential status to 'Made in India' hardware products.

It will also include a policy for allowing operators to exit the market, telecoms minister said, which could eventually lead to consolidation in an industry where more than a dozen players compete, keeping tariffs and margins low.

India's new telecoms policy will focus on building access in rural areas and promoting the domestic production of equipment, Sibal said.

India decided to overhaul its decade-old rules for the industry after alleged rigging in the grant of licences in 2007/08 came to light late last year, which the CAG said could have cost the government as much as $39 billion in revenue.

The policy will focus on convergence of TV, internet and internet services. Broadband download speed will be revised to 512 kbps vs 216 kbps. Sibal said that the government will audit the use of spectrum

Madhuri Dixit returns to India with family

Mahek is shattered to learn about media reports of her linkup with Salman Khan from Amar Upadhyay.