Los Angeles, May 16 (PTI) Queen of Pop Madonna has become the latest celebrity to join the neon hair rage in Hollywood.

The 56-year-old singer ditched her signature blonde hair and dyed her tips an ombre pink hue with the help of famed celebrity hairstylist Andy Lecompte in New York City.

The “Rebel Heart” singer debuted her new colourful locks on her Instagram account, reported Ace Showbiz.

In one of her Instagram images, Madonna was seen posing in front of a New York City backdrop, wearing minimal make-up and a comfy printed tee.

Besides Madonna, a number of A-list stars including Kaley Cuoco, Julianne Hough, and Hilary Duff have all experimented with their hair colors as of late.

Singer-actress Rita Ora was the latest star who revealed a brand new do. Earlier this week, she debuted a cool French-braided do for an event with Adidas.

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Petrol price was today hiked by Rs 3.13 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71 per litre, the second straight steep increase in rates this month.

The hike, which comes on the back of Rs 3.96 per litre increase in petrol and Rs 2.37 a litre raise in diesel from May 1, will be effective from midnight tonight.

Prices of petrol in Delhi will be Rs 66.29 a litre from tomorrow as against the current Rs 63.16; while diesel will cost Rs 52.28 per litre as against Rs 49.57, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation’s largest oil company, said.

The two consecutive hikes have wiped away more than one-third of the gains that had accrued to consumers when global rates began to fall in August last year.

“Since last price change (effective May 1), there has been a steep increase in international prices of both petrol and diesel. Rupee-US dollar exchange rate has also depreciated quite significantly during this period.

“Combined impact of both these factors warrant an upward revision in prices, the impact of which is being passed on to consumers with this price increase,” IOC said in a statement.

State-owned fuel retailers IOC, Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) revise petrol and diesel prices on 1st and 16th of every month based on average imported cost and rupee-dollar exchange rate in the previous fortnight.

Petrol prices had been cumulatively cut by Rs 17.11 a litre in 10 reductions between August and February and diesel by Rs 12.96 a litre in 6 cuts between October and February.

After two rates hikes (0.82 a litre in petrol and Rs 0.61 per litre in diesel on February 16, and Rs 3.18 per litre in petrol and Rs 3.09 a litre in diesel on March 1) rates were again cut on April 2 (49 paisa a litre in petrol and Rs 1.21 in diesel) and on April 16 (80 paise per litre on petrol and Rs 1.30 a litre on diesel).

“The movement of prices in international oil market and rupee-USD exchange rate shall continue to be closely monitored and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes,” IOC said.

Shanghai, May 16 (PTI) Bharti Airtel today said it has received financing commitments of up to USD 2.5 billion from China Development Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, with an average maturity of about nine years.

The company signed the term sheets for the financing options in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an official visit to China.

Airtel said the funds will help the company further diversify its global financing pool and invest in growth of data networks.

“China Development Bank has committed financing of up to USD 2 billion with an average maturity of about nine years,” Airtel said.

This is the “single-largest bilateral commitment by China Development Bank to any telecom operator globally and the largest bilateral commitment to a private Indian company”.

“Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has committed USD 500 million with an average life of about nine years,” Airtel added.

Subject to final agreements and requisite approvals, Bharti Airtel can draw these funds over a long availability period, depending on its financing requirements.

Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, said, “We are pleased to sign these agreements as part of the growing economic cooperation between India and China. It is an endorsement of the long-term potential of the Indian telecom sector. Given the availability period of three years, these financings shall further add to the financial flexibility that the Company already has.”

In March 2015, Bharti Airtel announced a strategic collaboration with China Mobile, under which the two companies will work towards growth of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) ecosystem and evolving mobile technology standards.

Bharti Airtel also has network equipment sourcing agreements with ZTE and Huawei.

United Nations, May 16 (PTI) The UN has adopted a resolution, led and co-sponsored by India, calling the international community to urgently assist Nepal and help rebuild the country following the devastating earthquake that killed more than 8,200 people.

The resolution was adopted by consensus here yesterday during a special 193-member General Assembly session.

The UN appealed once again to the world body to help raise USD 423 million over the next three months to meet essential needs of Nepal earthquake survivors.

“The appeal is currently only 14 per cent funded,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out.

India had taken the lead in negotiating the resolution on Nepal that was co-sponsored by 65 other nations including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Germany, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UK and the US.

India’s Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji said that as a “close friend and neighbour” of Nepal, India launched ‘Operation Maitri’ to aid in the rescue and relief efforts.

“The relief and rescue work provided by India was done in consultation and coordination with the Nepalese Government,” Mukerji said, adding that the first flight from India was dispatched with relief material within four hours of earthquake and there were non-stop sorties of aircrafts carrying 550 tonnes of relief material.

The Indian Army was operating 13 helicopters from Kathmandu and Pokhara and India had deployed 16 teams of the National Disaster Reaction Force, comprising over 700 trained personnel.

“Now that the search and rescue phase is over, our commitment extends to partnering with the people of Nepal for rehabilitation and re-construction,” he said.

Nepal’s envoy Durga Prasad Bhattarai appreciated India and China for their relief and rescue operations.

He said the?generosity and spontaneity shown in emergency responses, including from India and China, was heartfelt.

Ban called on the international community to rally in support of the country and invest for the long haul so that it can sustain itself as it recovers and rebuilds from a devastating earthquake.

He added that over the past three weeks, the lives of eight million Nepalese people has “changed beyond recognition,” as he expressed condolences to the victims of the massive 7.

8 magnitude quake that struck Nepal on 25 April, killing more than 8,200 people.

Another powerful temblor shook the country this week, killing more than 100 people and dealing another blow to Nepal’s severely crippled infrastructure.

Muzaffarnagar, May 16 (PTI) A girl was allegedly waylaid by four persons who tried to harass her in Budhana town here following which two of them were arrested, police said.

The incident took place yesterday when the four accused intercepted the girl when she was returning from college and tried to harass her, they said.

The locals nabbed two of the accused identified as Parvesh and Sagar and handed them over to police while the remaining two fled from the spot.

A case has been registered in this connection and efforts are on to nab the two accused, they said.

New Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government on Friday accused Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung of acting in an unconstitutional manner by issuing instructions directly to the Secretary (Services) to give the additional charge of Chief Secretary of Delhi to senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin.

The Lieutenant Governor by-passed the elected Government, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister (who also acts as the Minister in-charge of Services department). Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor does not have the extra-ordinary powers under the Constitution to bypass the elected Government and issue instructions directly to the Secretaries, whatever be thein a statement.

“The Government of NCT of Delhi had certain reservations about the conduct of Gamlin because of which the Government was hesitant to given the additional charge of Chief Secretary to her,” the statement added.

The statement further said that Gamlin was perceived to be extremely close to electricity companies in Delhi and was “lobbying for their interests within the government”.

“However, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, in a completely unconstitutional manner appointed Smt Shakuntala Gamlin, to this position. The hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has acted against the Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules,” said the statement.

Jung had earlier today appointed Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary of Delhi despite Kejriwal’s reluctance. provocation,” the Delhi Government said

Shanghai: Indian and Chinese firms signed 21 agreements officials said were worth a total of more than USD 22 billion in Shanghai on Saturday, witnessed by visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Let us work together in mutual interests,” Modi told executives from 200 Chinese and Indian companies at the signing ceremony. “Now India is ready for business.”

The nationalist leader was on the final day of a three-day trip to his fellow Asian giant, as the two jockey for regional influence and India`s trade deficit with China balloons.

Despite his hardline reputation Modi has moved to engage with Beijing since his election last year, and he was looking for an economic boost from the visit, seeking to deliver on election promises for foreign investment.

China is India`s biggest trading partner with two-way commerce totalling USD 71 billion in 2014. But India`s trade deficit with China has soared from just USD 1 billion in 2001-02 to more than USD 38 billion last year, Indian figures show.

Indian embassy trade counsellor Namgya Khanpa said the agreements signed at the Shanghai event were “worth over USD 22 billion”, with another five exchanged earlier.

A list circulated by Indian officials showed many of the contracts were for Chinese banks to finance Indian firms, and also included deals in the telecom, steel, solar energy and film sectors.

The two countries have followed significantly different economic paths in recent decades, with China rising to become the world`s second-largest economy while India has lagged behind, although Modi`s election raised hopes for reform among investors.

“I strongly believe that this century belongs to Asia,” he told a business forum ahead of the signing, as he sought to stress historical links between the two countries.

He welcomed Chinese investment in sectors including housing, renewable energy, high-speed rail, metro, ports and airports, adding that India was eager to draw on China`s expertise in mass manufacturing.

“We are keen to develop areas in which China is strong,” he said. “We need your involvement.”Earlier during Modi`s visit Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed him in Xian, the capital of his ancestral home province Shaanxi, in what his host said was an unprecedented gesture.

But relations between the world`s two most populous nations are soured by a long-running border dispute that saw them fight a brief war in 1962, and on Friday Modi told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that Beijing needs to “reconsider its approach” to their ties.

“Our relationship has been complex in recent decades,” Modi said, adding there were issues that “trouble smooth development of our relations”.

His comments stood out from the usual public declarations by diplomatic visitors to Beijing, who normally stick to uninterrupted pledges of friendship and good relations.
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Both countries are members of the BRICS grouping of major emerging economies, but Beijing has vowed to pour investment into India`s arch-rival Pakistan, as it rolls out infrastructure development plans across Asia, much of which bypass India.

Chinese contracts to build or manage Indian Ocean ports have raised concerns it is seeking to establish a “string of pearls” in the region.

Li acknowledged on Friday that “we do not deny that there are some disagreements between us”, but added: “We have far more common interests than differences.”

AFP

hanghai, May 16 (PTI) Calling for a ‘harmonious partnership’ between India and China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it was essential for economic development and political stability of Asia.

Addressing CEOs at the India-China Business Forum here, Prime Minister Modi said both India and China have potentials of growth and problems of poverty “which we can tackle together. I am personally committed to take the co-operative process forward”.

Highlighting the significance of a sound relationship between two of Asia’s major economies, he said: “Harmonious partnership between India and China is essential for economic development and political stability of the continent.”

He further said: “This industrial partnership of China and India can bring about greater investment, employment and satisfaction of our people.”

As many as 21 agreements were signed between Indian and Chinese firms worth USD 22 billion at the India-China Business Forum.

Asking Chinese companies to take the “historic opportunity” to invest in India, Modi said: “We have committed ourselves for creating and improving the business environment.

I can assure you that once you decide to be in India, we are confident to make you more and more comfortable.”

Many Chinese companies have the possibility of investing in India to take advantage of India’s potentials. The potential lies in manufacturing, processing as well as in infrastructure, he added.

Highlighting the steps taken up by his government to improve ease of doing business, he said: “We are making the taxation system transparent, stable and predictable. We have removed lot of regressive taxation regimes.” .
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