CINTAA expels Alok Nath amid rape allegations

Mumbai: The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) on Tuesday said it has expelled Alok Nath, a month after the actor was accused of rape by writer-producer Vinta Nanda. Actor Sandhya Mridul had also accused Nath of sexual harassment at an outdoor shoot years ago. Nath, who has denied the claims and filed a defamation case against Nanda, said he was yet to receive any official communication from CINTAA. PTI

76.28% turnout in first phase of Chhattisgarh elections

New Delhi: The voter turnout in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls was recorded at 76.28, the Election Commission said on Tuesday. The final figure is slightly higher than 75.93 per cent voting seen in the 2013 polls in the first phase, the EC said. Polling was held on Monday in 18 Assembly constituencies. EC officials had earlier put the figure at 70 per cent but added it was likely to go up as the data was being collated at that time. PTI

Rs 75 coin to mark Bose’s flag hoisting anniv

New Delhi: The government announced it will release a  Rs 75 commemorative coin to mark 75th anniversary of hoisting of the Tricolour for the first time by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Port Blair. The 35-gram coin will be composed of 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, and 5 per cent each of nickel and zinc. It will bear Netaji’s portrait saluting the flag. On December 30, 1943, Bose had hoisted the Tricolour for the first time at Cellular Jail, Port Blair. pti

UP Govt nod to Faizabad, Allahabad renaming

Lucknow: The UP Government on Tuesday approved renaming of Faizabad and Allahabad divisions as Ayodhya and Prayagraj, respectively. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Prayagraj division will comprise Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh districts, while Ayodhya division will include Ayodhya, Ambedkarnagar, Sultanpur, Amethi and Barabanki districts. tns

Milk largely safe, quality issues persist: FSSAI

New Delhi: Milk in India is largely safe, even though quality issues persist, an interim report released by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Tuesday. The study found that less than 10 per cent samples (638) had contaminants (mainly from poor farm practices and quality of feed) that make milk unsafe for consumption, while over 90 per cent of samples were found safe. The survey tested for 13 adulterants, including vegetable oil, detergents, glucose, urea and ammonium sulphate. tns