Tag: thAn

Skoda Kodiaq review: better than the larger Toyota Fortuner and smaller Audi Q3?

Loknath Das

SUVs are the flavour of the season, no two ways about it. But surprisingly, this is not limited to mass-appeal segments like compact SUVs or 7-seater family options in the Rs 15-20 lakh bracket. Even the premium space is witnessing newer options and the latest entry in the Rs 30-40 lakh segment comes from Skoda. It’s their first try at a 7-seater full sized SUV and they seem to have got it right. Why? Read on… The Kodiaq looks smart. If you want muscles and bulk, look elsewhere. This one…

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New Ford EcoSport S review: More than just a makeover

Loknath Das

HIGHLIGHTS The Ford EcoSport S gets sportier exterior elements Interior also gets orange accents and new features Re-introduces the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to the EcoSport EcoSport S does look more aggressive compared to its Titanium+ trim CHENNAI: The SUV segment is one of the hottest categories in the Indian auto market these days. And that’s perhaps why manufacturers are trying to lure more buyers with affordable compact SUV offerings with some extra bells and whistles thrown in. One such offering is the new top-spec variant of the Ford EcoSport, christened…

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2018 Hyundai i20 Active Facelift launched in India; Much pricier than Ford Freestyle

Loknath Das

Hyundai has just launched the facelifted i20 Active in India. Prices start from Rs. 6.99 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, making it a lot more costlier than the recently launched Ford Freestyle. The top-end trim is priced at Rs. 10 lakhs. The Figo-based Freestyle is India’s lowest priced hatchback-based crossover, which starts from Rs. 5.09 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The i20 Active Facelift gets minor changes – a contrast paint scheme for the roof, revised alloy wheels, a refreshed center console and a new pattern for the seat upholstery. These changes apart, the…

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Pooja Bhatt Is Having A Better January Than We Are. Because, Goa

Loknath Das

What every January needs – a peaceful vacay Pooja Bhatt and her friend are having a blast in Goa (Image Credit: Poojab1972) For the lot of us, January means shaking off the holiday merriment, getting started on our resolutions and getting back to the grind. But that isn’t the case for Pooja Bhatt. The popular Bollywood actress and film-maker brought 2018 in with a new look – hot pink hair – and then, set off to spend the next few days of the new year in none other than scenic Goa. It’s safe…

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Study abroad: Youngsters bring back more than memories

Loknath Das

What are the things you’d expect to bring back from a study-abroad trip — memories of friendships forged, a precious certificate, trinkets and souvenirs? For many students, though, the most precious takeaways are intangible — a cookbook with recipes from all around the world, each contributed by a different classmate; a habit of recycling that you refuse to abandon; sometimes even a renewed determination to always wear a sari to special events. We talked to five students, some of whom are back and some who are still making new memories…

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There’s more to Canada than Toronto. Here’s why you need to explore Ontario soon

Loknath Das

Canada’s most populous province, Ontario is home to nearly 40% of all Canadians. It is diverse and vibrant from the multicultural metropolis of Toronto, Canada’s biggest city, to the First Nations villages on the Hudson Bay shores to the north. There are charming towns, historic settlements, a beautiful chance for cruising amid Saint Lawrence River’s Thousand Islands, as well as vast wilderness in national and provincial parks like the much-loved Algonquin. Ontario celebrates its diversity year-round, from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival to the Toronto International Film Festival and RBC Ottawa…

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The adventures of Suki: This Bengal cat probably travels more than you

Loknath Das

Suki’s vivid coat, which resembles that of a leopard’s, reflects the illustrious adventures that the Bengal cat has been on. From a canoe ride to a hike through a mushroom-filled forest, Suki is busy exploring the world with her human, Canada-based travel photographer Marti Gutfreund.   Gutfreund explained in an email to DesignTAXI that Suki entered her life after her last feline passed away. “My partner and I do a lot of hiking and camping together. [After] our last kitty passed away…we really wanted to have a pet that we didn’t always have…

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H1N1 bigger killer than dengue and malaria in Maharashtra

Loknath Das

The H1N1 influenza virus which entered the list of infectious diseases with a global pandemic in 2009, has overtaken dengue and malaria to become the biggest killer among seasonal ailments in Maharashtra. Since its appearance, the viral infection has claimed nearly 2,500 lives in the state, about five times the fatalities caused by dengue and three times that of malaria in the same period. The viral infection is now next only to tuberculosis and AIDS in the state’s list of top contagious killer diseases. TB and AIDS together are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths…

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Kunal Kapoor: Like to travel within India more than abroad

Loknath Das

New Delhi: A lot of people wish to visit international destination, including during vacations, but actor Kunal Kapoor likes to see different parts of India, which he considers a “special” country, and more attractive. Kunal, along with his friend of over two decades, Cyrus Sahukar, went on a trip from Dharamsala to Kaza as part of upcoming TV show “Great Escape with Kunal and Cyrus”, which will be aired on Fox Life starting from June 23. “I have learned from this trip that there is so much to see within…

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World Health Organization spent more on plane tickets and hotels than AIDS and malaria

Loknath Das

The World Health Organization reportedly spent more money last year on traveling around the globe, than they did on actually combating the world’s illnesses. The health agency spent approximately $200 million on plane tickets, hotel accommodation and other travel expenses—more than its combined spending to tackle AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and hepatitis, according to an investigation by the Associated Press on May 21. The organization may be a global entity, but it is funded by taxpayers via states’ contributions to the United Nations. The allegations around WHO’s travel spending are hard…

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