Google has announced that it is testing a new way to allow the users to sign into their Google accounts without password.

According to The Next Web, the new method will allow the users to use a mobile to log in into their Google account on the desktop. Google confirmed the move saying that they have invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required.

The test was first reported by a Reddit user, rp1226, who tells that the users first have to authorize their phone for use as an authentication device.

After entering their email in the Google account log-in field, a pop-up message on their phone asks them to authenticate the session. When they acknowledge the pop-up, the desktop page forwards as if they have entered the correct password manually. This test is reportedly for both iOS and Android.

Wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, has decided to retire, says a report in Mumbai Mirror.

Dawood, who is currently based out of Karachi in Pakistan and enjoys the protection of the Pakistani security agencies, is likely to appoint his successor, even as his health is failing. The frontrunner for the position is his brother Anees Ahmed.

Dawood’s right hand man Chhota Shakeel on the other hand, will only retain his position, says the report. The successor’s name will be declared on Saturday when Dawood Ibrahim turns 60.

Dawood has decided that his failing health will not allow him to helm D-company’s $10 billion multinational empire of drugs, betting, hawala, and arms smuggling.

There has been no official word on the same from D-Company. But Mirror reports say that no one knows the venue of Dawood’s birthday celebration. Those who have been invited have been told that they will be picked up just minutes before.

But the transition will not be sudden. Dawood might hang around for a few years and guide the gang’s successor.

Dawood now has three brothers living with him – Anees, Humayun and Mustaqeem, after he death of his brother Noorul Haq alias Noora and deportation of Iqbal Kaskar from Dubai. Humayun and Mustaqeem are not very active in the gang any more.

Dawood’s two sons Mahrukh and Moin, as well as wife Mehjabeen have advised him to reduce his workload. Mahrukh is married to Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad’s daughter Junaid.

Dawood also did not want to leave his huge ill-gotten fortune to become a source of contention and endless dispute among his family members including his brothers, their children and his own, says the report.

Indian intelligence agencies and the Mumbai Police are already keeping a tab on the forthcoming birthday celebrations in Karachi. They already have a list of 35 people who are supposed to attend the event. The list includes members of UAE’s royal family and influential diplomats.

But the D-Company sources have denied that any such bash is to take place. What we know about is the family’s plans to feed 10000 orphans and distribute clothes to poor. We have no idea about any succession plan,” said a Karachi-based family friend of Dawood to Mirror.

Secret parties and revelry is also planned at some South Mumbai locations on Saturday. The Mumbai Police is keeping a watch on these parties.

Dawood, who has turned into a ‘devout’ Muslim over the past few years, is likely to visit Mecca after his 60th birthday.

‪#‎Bengal‬ Sanctions 7.47 Cottah Land for ‪#‎Lepcha‬ Bhavan in New Town, ‪#‎Kolkata‬

The Mamata Banerjee government has allotted a 7.47-cottah plot in New Town’s Action Area I to set up Lepcha Bhavan for the community.

Grid-connected solar panels will be installed on the roof for compound illumination of the state-of-the-art green building. The state urban development department is selecting a reputable architectue firm to come up with the design for the sixth-storied structure. The required built-up space of the building will be at least 12,000 square feet.

NKDA officials said that New Town is being developed as a green smart city and the aim is to have a unique landmark building in the township like the proposed Lepcha Bhavan.

“The aim is to construct an eco-friendly building that will reflect the Lepcha culture. It will be built, bringing together natural resources and modern technology,” an NKDA official said.

During a visit in Kalimpong, Mamata Banerjee had said the Lepcha Board was working for the development of their housing, education, livelihood, sanitation, tourism and preservation and propagation of their culture.

Courtesy_ Darjeeling Times

MUMBAI: Mumbai witnessed its coldest winter in years on Wednesday night, when temperatures dipped to about 11.6 degree Celsius.

The city usually experiences about 17 degree Celsius temperature during December. This was about 6 degrees below normal.

The lowest recorded minimum temperatures for the month of December was 12 degree Celsius on December 15 last year.

According to weather department officials, minimum and maximum temperature levels will continue below normal for next 24 hours.

Cold and dry northwesterly winds from Pakistan have resulted in a significant drop in temperatures.

This is the second lowest minimum temperatures recorded for December since 2004.

As Mumbai shivered at 11 degrees, Mahabaleswhar recorded a temparature of 14 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature in December, which usually hovers around 24 degree Celsius in Mahabaleshwar has risen five degrees above normal this year. The minimum temperature which is usually 13 degree Celsius was at least 17 degree Celsius since the past week.

May Santa Claus shower you with gifts. May your day be blessed with your near and dear ones.

May the New Year bring a new light of glow in your life. Make 2016 an eventful year.

God Bless You All

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2014 which will allow children in the 16-18 age group to be tried as adults if they commit heinous crimes. The bill will now be debated in Rajya Sabha, where the government despite lacking a majority in that House, will be hoping it is passed.
The amendments were prepared in the backdrop of public outcry over the Delhi gangrape case of 2012 in which a juvenile accused received a lighter punishment because of his age.
On Wednesday, several members in Lok Sabha opposed the controversial amendment that provides for treating juveniles between the age of 16 – 18 years on par with adults for crimes such as rape.Rehabilitation and not retribution should be the policy, said many members, while expressing their concern over the amendments to the bill.
The House agreed to pass the bill after a clause that any 16-18 year old, who commits a less serious offence, may be tried as an adult only if he is apprehended after the age of 21 years, was deleted.
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had said in case a heinous crime has been committed by a person in the age group of 16-18 years it would be examined by a Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a ‘child’ or as an ‘adult’.
The trial of the juvenile, whether as an adult or child, would depend upon the opinion of the board which would comprise psychologists and social experts, she said.
The henious crimes, she said, would include those offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which attract jail term of over seven years.
The bill, she further said, proposed to modify the norms of adoption to ensure that uncared children find a suitable home as early as possible. As per the proposal, NRIs wanting to adopt a child will be treated at par with resident Indians.
Although the lawmakers did not have problems with the provisions relating to adoption, they were divided over the issue of trying children between 16-18 years of age involved in heinous crimes as adults. Among those who supported the bill in Parliament were Prahlad Patel (BJP) and Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) who argued that punishment should be linked to the gravity of crime not the age.
Opposing the Bill, Shashi Tharoor (Congress) said it was violative of the UN conventions of children and against the Constitution.
The justice system should focus on “rehabilitation and not retribution”, he said, adding it would be “emotionally, ethically and morally” wrong to punish a child, who does not have access to basic facilities, like an adult.
There is no scientific system of determining the age of a children and in certain cases it is done by looking at the child, he said, and quipped “General (VK) Singh knows it.”
Singh, who is Minister of State for External Affairs, was involved in a prolonged legal battle over the issue of his age when he was the Army Chief four years back.
Speaking on the issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said as an individual he feels that if a person is capable of committing a heinous crime of rape then the punishment will have to be in accordance to the crime.
Vinod Kumar (TRS) opposed the trial of juvenile between 16 to 18 years of age as adults, saying they need education and moral classes as most of them committing crimes come from economically backward families.
Quoting data, he said crime committed by juvenile as a percentage of total crime is just 1.2 percent.
“In present circumstances educating them and giving them moral classes will help control such crimes. But if he is tried like adults in the age of 16-18 years, it would have bad impact on their psychology,” Kumar said.
Badaruddoza Khan (CPIM) said the lowering of age of trial of juvenile for heinious crimes is not in accordance with the international laws.
“The amendment with regard to lowering of age is short-sighted, unjust and against public interest,” Khan said.
He had suggested that the provisions of the Bill be such that the juvenile be allowed to consult with psychologists to prevent them from repeating the mistake.
P Srinivasa Reddy (YSRCP) said putting the 16-18 years olds in jail along with adults would make them hardend criminals.
Supporting the Bill for the changes it brought about in adoption laws, Supriya Sule (NCP) cautioned the government against drafting the amendments out of emotion.
ALSO SEE
Juvenile Justice Act: In Lok Sabha, Shashi Tharoor says amended bill will embarrass govt
Juvenile Justice Act: In Lok Sabha, Shashi Tharoor says amended bill will embarrass govt
Amending Juvenile Justice Act to try 16-year-old’s as adults won’t fix anything and here’s why
Amending Juvenile Justice Act to try 16-year-old’s as adults won’t fix anything and here’s why
Juvenile criminals aged 16-18 years in heinous crimes may be treated as adults after cabinet nod
Juvenile criminals aged 16-18 years in heinous crimes may be treated as adults after cabinet nod

“The law comes in the backdrop of the gangrape. For one Nirbhaya rape, you cannot make a law out of emotion… You need to look into your international commitments as well,” she said.
Sule said she stands in dilemma whether to support the Bill or not and demanded to know from the Minister what is the roadmap of the NDA government with regard to juvenile age.
“We need to look into the psychology aspect. Every child, although he makes a mistake, deserves a second chance,” she said.
Dharamvir Gandhi (AAP) said that lowering the age to 16 years for trial of juvenile would be injustice to the child as a child of that age is unable to comprehend a situation.
“The age should not be brought down. It will be gross injustice to the child and will be violation of international laws,” he said.
With PTI inputs

City churches are gearing up as the favorite season, Christmas is round the corner. It is not too far and parishioners have already begun decking up the church premises. To add to the festive fervor and excitement, churches around the city have organised various competitions. From making cribs to decorative stars, it is a gala time as they welcome this season.

Yuletide is the most awaited time of the year, as kids wait for Santa to come with gift and for adults it is all about socialising within the community. One of the churches has chalked down quite a few activities for the kids, the youth and the senior citizens. On December 21, they have arranged for a special prayer meeting and games for senior citizens to attend, as some may not be able to attend the midnight mass.

“We have also made sure that those who will not be able to travel by themselves will get a pick up and drop service by the church,” said the priest. The parishioners have already decorated the tree and will be soon working on the cribs. The parish is divided into 12 communities and each community will be preparing a crib. Along with it, there will be carol singing competition. On December 28, the church will be celebrating family day.

Another church members have decided on a theme and will be working on reaching out to the poor and needy, so that they can celebrate Christmas in a meaningful manner. The motive is to provide them with basic amenities like at least clothes to wear and food to eat. “Along with this, the church will make sure that the area is kept clean, keeping in mind the prime minister’s call,” said the parish priest. The church has also worked on competitions like poetry, essay writing, poster and quiz. The youth will be staging a few performances to add to the Christmas feel.

The youth members of prominent churches like Our lady of mercy church, St Thomas Church and Marthoma Syrian Church are active during the season and the youth cell had organised a prayer service recently, along with which, the women cell have started preparing for Christmas sweets. Various churches will conduct star making contests, where communities will be displaying their creative work. One of the priests said, “All the stars will be used to decorate the church premises. The parishioners will also make cribs, while working with their respective community members.”

MUMBAI: The Shillong Chamber Choir that made choral singing fashionable after they took it out of the hallowed confines of the church and classical evenings to winning the top prize at India’s Got Talent, will take centrestage at St Peter’s Church grounds, Bandra, on Wednesday evening. The 21-member choir that packs in everything—from Abba and Boney M to Bollywood retro and gospel songs—will dish out a “full musical buffet” as Damon Lyndem, the choir manager puts it. And of course, popular holiday tunes to ring in Christmas. The choral sensation from the northeast will see the Shillong Chamber Orchestra for the very first time.

A 30-piece musical ensemble of wind and string musicians from all over Europe will join the choir and their band on stage to perform pieces orchestrated by Neil Nongkyrih, founder and conductor of the Shillong Chamber Choir.

The two-hour long concert will end with the choir paying a tribute to the flood victims of Chennai and funds raised will go into the chief minister’s relief fund for farmers.

MUMBAI: Over a week after artist Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer were found murdered in Mumbai, her estranged husband Chintan Upadhyay has been arrested.

Chintan Upadhyay was called in for questioning late last night and placed under arrest at around 3:30 this morning.

Chintan and Hema Upadhyay’s marriage was reportedly troubled and divorce proceedings were on.

The bodies of 43-year-old Hema Upadhyay, a noted installation artist, and her lawyer Harish Bhambani, were found wrapped in plastic, packed in boxes and dumped in a sewer on December 11 in Mumbai’s Kandivali area.

Five people have been arrested in the case so far.

Hema’s relatives have said they suspect her husband’s role in the murder. Last week, her cousin Deepak Prasad had told the media that he and others in the family “strongly suspected Mr Upadhyay’s role behind the conspiracy to kill his wife.” He also alleged that some years back, Mr Upadhyay had warned his wife that he would kill her and could go to any extent to do so.

Based on the statements of Ms Upadhyay’s relatives, her husband was questioned more than once.

Chintan Upadhyay has told the police that though they were not together, he still loved his wife and they had no problems. He did admit to a property dispute.

What raised the suspicion of the police was that Chintan was close to the main accused in the case, Vidyadhar Rajbhar, who is still missing. Rajbhar was last seen in Bhusaval.