Tickets starting at Rs 1,010: SpiceJet launches 3-day sale to mark 10 years of operation

Celebrating ten years of operations, budget carrier SpiceJet today announced that it would be offering tickets for as low as Rs 1, 010 inclusive of taxes.

 The three-day sale launched on Tuesday and will be open till midnight of 21 May and tickets at the discounted rate will be available for flights from 1 July, 2015 to 15 October, 2015.

The offer is available for all domestic flights on SpiceJet’s direct, via and connecting flights network. International flights are not included in this offer.
SpiceJet, which flew its first commercial flight in 2005 completes its first decade of flying on 23 May, 2015.

India’s high-speed train in the offing

China is currently conducting a feasibility study for the $36 billion, 1,754-km Delhi-Chennai high-speed corridor.

 XI’AN: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Xi’an, all eyes are on the major outcomes from this visit. The two countries are expected to sign a major memorandum on expanding cooperation in the building of a high- speed rail corridor between Delhi and Chennai.

For the People’s Republic of China, building the world’s largest superfast rail network has been closely linked to the country’s booming global ambition.
In the early 1990s, the average passenger train in China ran at a speed of only 48 kilometres per hour.
Roads were badly congested and people were forced to fly even for short journeys. It was in 1999 that China began building its first high-speed rail corridor.
Within 15 years, China built a national network that is bigger than all the highspeed corridors of the world put together.
At the time of Independence, India’s rail network was nearly 54,000 km; while China’s rail network was only of 27,000 km. But since then, China has nearly quadrupled its rail network to about 110,000 km; while India has added barely 11,000 km of track in the same period.
When PM Modi announced his wish for a high-speed rail corridor linking India’s biggest cities, questions were asked about whether it’s worth spending so much on the project.
Even in China, it was widely debated as to whether it was worth investing huge sums of money on the project.
According to conservative estimates, the total cost of China’s high-speed rail corridor has been to the tune of $300 billion.
China’s early high- speed trains were imported or built under technology transfer agreements with foreign firms like Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Chinese engineers then re-designed the train components and built indigenous trains that can reach operational speeds of up to 380 kmph. The average speed on these trains at present is 200 kilometres per hour.
In the run up to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Beijing, Chinese authorities have been pushing for a pilot project to showcase the country’s high- speed prowess to India. China is currently conducting a feasibility study for the $36 billion, 1,754-km Delhi-Chennai high- speed corridor. China wants to speed up implementation of a shorter high-speed rail corridor from Chennai to Bengaluru and from Delhi to Agra, even while the feasibility study continues.
Key decision A study done by the World Bank says that Chinese projects are one- third cheaper than the high-speed projects by other countries.
But, India needs to decide whether it is prepared to entrust an infrastructure sector with grave national security ramifications to Chinese companies.
Days ahead of Modi’s visit, the Chinese ambassador to India has announced that deals worth US $10 billion are expected to be signed this week.

 

Stop the Clock, Naturally

What you eat, how much you exercise, how you live-all have a huge influence on how you will age. Here's an age-defying plan

 

Ageing is a gradual process and does not happen over a few days or months. Contrary to popular belief, living longer and healthier isn't simply a matter of having the genes of a tortoise. In fact, heredity counts for about 30% of the difference in how well most people age. Your susceptibility to wrinkles, flab, muscle loss and health problems such as heart disease and osteoporosis is strongly linked with what you eat, how much you exercise, your stress levels and exposure to toxins and harsh chemicals. In short, the lifestyle you've followed since you were young reflects on your skin, hair, joints, heart-every part of your body and mind. Here are some daily to-dos to help you stay beautiful and youthful always.

Eat clean, keep hydrated.
Drink a couple of glasses of water as soon as you wake up. This helps to cleanse your system. Follow it up with a glass of lemonade or green tea. Kick-start your day with a healthy, wholesome breakfast. Have small but frequent meals through the day. Keep the dinner light; try to finish it by 8 pm.

Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Go for wholegrains and complex carbs and reduce your intake of refined carbs. Get your protein from beans, lentils, lean meats and fish. Keep fat intake to a minimum-especially the artery-clogging trans fats. Ditch junk, high-calorie foods, as well as packaged foods that come with additives, artificial colour and preservatives. These speed up ageing. Consume organic foods as far as possible to reduce your exposure to toxins. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water through the day.

Work out.
Exercise is perhaps the best anti-ageing tool. It has a positive effect right down to your DNA. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Walk, run, cycle or swim for cardio benefits. Add some strength training. A mind-body practice, yoga is hugely beneficial. It helps to de-stress and calm you. Moreover, regular practice improves balance, flexibility and posture-all of which can help tackle the physical effects of ageing.

Reduce stress.
Find time for yourself and engage in activities that make you happy and help you relax. Meet friends, watch movies, listen to music, find a hobby. Plan vacations at least twice a year. Practise meditation and pranayama to calm the mind. Get 7-8 hours of sound sleep every night.

Indulge.
Pamper yourself with body massage, foot spas and facials. These are not just relaxing, they also rejuvenate you. Whole body massages, especially when done with medicated oils, for example, can reduce pain, improve joint mobility as well as circulation and promote sleep.

Back to nature.
Avoid chemical exposure through harsh cosmetics and other products. Use natural products as far as possible. Apply overripe fruits and vegetable peels, yoghurt, milk cream, honey and besan as skin packs. Oil your hair and body 2-3 times a week before taking a shower.

Ditch bad habits.
Smoking is bad, bad, bad. Besides its known links to cancer, lung and heart disease, smoking is also associated with premature skin ageing, speeding the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also, curb alcohol intake. If you must drink, leave it at a celebratory glass of wine occasionally.

Try ayurveda.

Panchakarma treatments that aim to cleanse the system when started early and done on a regular basis is known to delay the onset of ageing. Make sure you visit a reputed Ayurveda clinic to get one based on your constitution and symptoms.

10,000 Indo-Canadians throng Modi's 'rockstar' show

Toronto: Just as the organizers had advertised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public interaction with the Indian diaspora at Ricoh Coliseum here on Wednesday had all the trappings of a rockstar concert as Bollywood singer Sukhwinder Singh, Shiamak Davar troupe and other groups set the tone for the evening.
The nearly 10,000-strong audience interrupted Modi repeatedly during his hour-long speech with shouts of "Modi, Modi..." as the prime minister spoke about the changes sweeping India.
Speaking in Hindi in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet colleagues, Modi repeatedly stressed, "Sarkar naahi badli, jan manas badla hai dus mahine main (It is not that the government has changed, but it's people's thinking that has changed during the last 10 months)".
In the new atmosphere, Modi said, people were responding with enthusiasm to new ideas whether it was his Clean India Mission, or bank accounts for the poor or gas subsidy.
Modi said celebrities joined the Clean India Mission on their own, poor people deposited Rs.14,000 crore in their newly opened accounts and rich people are giving up their gas subsidy so that the poor can be helped. "Modi has done nothing...it is the common man in India who has changed," the prime minister said.

There were rounds of cheers every time he took a dig at the previous regime.
But the prime minister drew the biggest applause when he said his mission is "Skill India while theirs was Scam India".
People cheered him when the PM, while referring to his mission to clean India and root out corruption, said in Hindi, "Jinhone gandgi karni thee, woh kar ke chale gaye. Lekin hum safai kar ke jayenge (Those who created scams and dirt have now gone, we will clean up the mess".
Modi said his government was working on his four-pronged dream symbolizing the four colours in the Indian flag - saffron, white, green and blue (the colour of the Ashok Chakra in the flag). "Saffron means energy (revolution, white means the second white (nilk) revolution, green means the second green revolution and blue means clear blue sky through new manufacturing process which don't impact the environment," Modi said.
The prime minister wondered why the likes of Google and Microsoft cannot be created in India when Indian IT specialists are playing an important role in these tech giants. "We have undertaken to promote innovation in India through the Atal Innovation Mission and skill development through our Skill India mission," he said.
Modi said the two biggest achievements of his visits to France and Canada were the signing of a deal in France for manufacturing nuclear reactors in India and the supply of uranium from Canada. "These two agreements will help India become a big contributor to clean energy in the world."
Modi, on the last leg of his three-nation tour, thanked his Canadian counterpart for his hospitality. "Today, we started a new era of cooperation between our two countries and it will last very long. Canada has all the resources India needs."
Lauding the Indian diaspora in Canada, Modi urged them to contribute to their ancestral land. The OCI and PIO cards have been merged and the new OCI card will be for life and available to people of Indian origin up to their fourth generation, the prime minister said.
Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced Modi to the gathering. "Under your leadership, Canada feels closer to India than any time before," Harper said.

"We had extended a hand of friendship (to Modi) long before others," the Canadian leader said, referring to Canada's participation in the annual Vibrant Gujarat summit launched by Modi as chief minister in 2003.

Honda City Gets New Variants in India

Honda Cars India, today, launched a new trim in its Honda City range. Called the VX (O), it will be positioned above the VX grade in both petrol and diesel models. The new trim comes in new white orchid pearling colour and gets a touch screen audio visual navigation (AVN) system.
The new audio visual navigation system features is a part of the in-car infotainment system that has a large 15.7cm touchscreen. The system also supports DVD/CD playback, Bluetooth, USB, AUX, i-POD, MP3, FM/ AM, Rear Camera Display with Guidelines. The system also comes with an integrated hands-free Bluetooth connectivity feature that will allow the user sync his phone with it and allow him to see his address book, dial and answer calls. The company also says that the City will also feature security alarm and keyless entry from S grade onwards.



Mr. Jnaneswar Sen, Sr. Vice President,Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd.said, "Our endeavor has always been to offer best in class features to our customers & we are happy to offer the new grade of the Honda City with Touchscreen Audio Visual Navigation. We are thankful to our customers for tremendous response which made the 4th Generation Honda City become the fastest mid-size sedan in India by achieving the 1 lakh sales mark in just 15 months."
With the introduction of this new grade, the Honda City now comes in a total of 14 variants.
Ex-showroom, New Delhi price of new grade

VX(O) MT i-VTEC (Petrol) - Rs. 10,64,000
VX(O) MT i-DTEC (Diesel) - Rs. 11,83,500

5 Superfoods You Should Be Eating To Live A Healthier Life

1. Almonds

Almonds are nuts that are small packets of nutrition. They are known to have cancer preventive qualities along with benefits for the heart. Almonds are rich in iron, calcium, Vitamin E, amongst many other important nutrients. It is also important to point out that the fat that the nut contains a healthy form of fat hence should not be a point of concern. You must include it in your daily diet to enjoy all its benefits.

2. Eggs

 

If you love eating eggs in your breakfast, then you must be assured you’re eating a superfood. An egg is a storehouse of protein, Vitamin A, E, choline which is very essential for the functioning of your nervous system. When consumed, it provides your body with a long list of benefits that makes it a superfood.

3. Broccoli



This green vegetable is packed with a host of nutrients that make ii an absolute superfood for all. Broccoli contains vitamin C, K, A and potassium. It not only aids in blood pressure regulation but also is known to boost the immune system of your body. Doctors recommend the vegetable to pregnant women because of the calcium and iron that it contains. You must make sure you try and eat broccoli at room temperature, may be as a salad preparation since this helps retain its nutrients.

4. Yogurt







Yogurt is a dairy product that proves to be an excellent source of calcium, proteins and probiotics. It also contains Vitamin D that helps your body to absorb the calcium which is good for your bones. Consuming yogurt regularly can help lower cholesterol levels too.

5. Beans


Beans are known to be an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, proteins, iron, zinc, antioxidants, potassium and the list is endless. That is what makes it a superfood for you. Consuming beans plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy digestive system as well as keeping the cholesterol levels in check.
Eating smart and consuming the right food that provides your body with all the essential nutrients can ensure you a happy and healthy life.
You may also like:
Top 30 Foods to Gain Weight
Foods That You Should Eat The Most

South Africa spin twins knock Sri Lanka out of World Cup

JP Duminy took a hat-trick as South Africa's bowlers set up a crushing nine-wicket World Cup quarter-final win over Sri Lanka in Sydney on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka, who won the toss, were bowled out for just 133 on a good Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.
After South Africa's pacemen reduced Sri Lanka to four for two, leg-spinner Imran Tahir (four for 26 in 8.2 overs) and off-spinner Duminy (three for 29 in seven) made sure the Islanders' innings never got out of first gear.
South Africa, so often labelled World Cup 'chokers', completed an emphatic win by finishing on 134 for one with 32 overs to spare.
Quinton de Kock, who had managed just 53 runs in six previous innings this World Cup, was 78 not out after hitting the winning boundary -- his 12th four -- off paceman Lasith Malinga.
Faf du Plessis was unbeaten on 21.
Victory meant the Proteas had, after several heartbreaking reverses that started at the SCG with a rain-affected semi-final loss to England in 1992, finally won a knockout match at the World Cup.
They will face the winners of Saturday's match between New Zealand and the West Indies in an Auckland semi-final on March 24.
- No fairytale -
 
Sangakkara and Mahela bowed out. South Africa's win meant there was no fairytale farewell for Sri Lanka batting greats Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, for whom this was their last one-day international before retirement.
The pair, key members of the Sri Lanka side that lost the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals, had been desperate to finish with a flourish.
But Sangakkara's record-breaking run of four successive ODI hundreds finally came to an end although the left-hander, who plans to continue in Test cricket, top-scored with 45.
Jayawardene, who has already bowed out of the five-day format, could only manage four on Wednesday.
Sangakkara and fellow left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne (41) put on 65 for the third wicket
But otherwise there was little batting resistance on a good pitch, with Sri Lanka -- the 1996 World Cup winners -- losing four wickets for two runs in nine balls as they slumped to 116 for eight.
South Africa's bowlers, often overshadowed in ODI cricket by their more celebrated batsmen, dominated Sri Lanka from the start.
Kusal Perera, promoted to open the innings, fell for three when he edged Kyle Abbott and was brilliantly caught left-handed, at the second attempt, by de Kock as the wicket-keeper dived in front of first slip.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was then out for a seven-ball duck, edging fast bowler Dale Steyn low to du Plessis at second slip.
Thirimanne, who struck five fours, exited when he chipped an easy return catch to man-of-the-match Tahir.
The Pakistan-born spinner then had Jayawardene mistiming a pull to short mid-wicket.
Sri Lanka, the reigning World Twenty20 champions, were now 81 for four in the 24th over.
There was no recovery, with Duminy dismissing Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews -- one of several batsmen who contributed to their own dismissal with a poor shot -- and then, at the start of his next over, recording the ninth World Cup hat-trick.
Duminy had Nuwan Kulasekara caught behind for one and debutant Tharindu Kaushal lbw for a golden duck on his ODI debut
In the midst of Duminy's treble, Tahir removed Thisara Perera as Sri Lanka's collapse continued.

Sangakkara was caught at deep third man off fast bowler Morne Morkel for 45 off 96 balls, including just three fours, before Tahir dismissed Malinga to wrap up the innings in a mere 37.2 overs.