News

No report of Chinese incursion in JK: Antony

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There is no report of any Chinese incursion in Jammu and Kashmir but the areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are under constant army surveillance, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.

“No report of Chinese incursion has been received from the government of Jammu and Kashmir…The areas along LAC are kept under constant surveillance by regular patrolling by troops and other aerial, optronic and electronic means,” Defence Minister A K Antony told the Upper House in a written reply.

Over Rs 2 L cr spent on defence equipment in 3 yrs

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India spent around Rs two lakh crore for procuring defence equipment for its armed forces in the last three years, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

“Rs 1.98 lakh crore has been the total expenditure on procurement of defence equipment for armed forces during the last three years,” Defence Minister AK Antony said in a written reply.

India has undertaken a major military modernisation drive under which it is planning to spend more than USD 100 billion in the next five years for procuring weapon systems for the armed forces.

Amjadullah Khan kicked off developmental activities worth 43 lakh

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MBT Corporator Amjadullah Khan kicked off developmental activities worth 43 lakh at Azampura Municipal Division. He kicked off the work from Jhatpat nagar to Aizza School with the cost of 8 lakh 30 thousand rupees, besides construction of CC road from Feroz manzil to Khallah with the cost of 5 lakh 80 thousand rupees and CC road and other developmental work in Khan Bagh costing 16 lakh rupees.

Kal Penn makes a four letter call: “Vote”

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Indian American actor Kal Penn, best known for his “Harold and Kumar” movies, brought the house down at the Democratic National Convention as he ended his humour filled speech with a four-letter word: “Vote.”

The former White House staffer, whose real name is Kalpen Suresh Modi, provided the Democrats’ answer Tuesday to Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood who had panned President Barack Obama at last week’s Republican National Convention with an interview with an empty chair.

Obeying my husband is my duty, even if he is a drunkard

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‘My husband is a habitual drunkard but I have no complaints against him. He is good at heart; he gives Rs 100 to 150 daily for daily expenses; He cares for us; Obeying him is my duty. Whether he abuses me or beats me, I have to live with him only. I don’t want anyone to scoff at my husband. My husband is everything to me.’ These are the words of Gori Bi, resident of Fatima Nagar Vattepally.

Hyderabad police intensify search for kidnapped doctor ‎

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A special team of Hyderabad police Wednesday intensified their search for a doctor who was allegedly kidnapped for ransom.

Police traced the mobile phone of Harsha Reddy, a radiologist at Yashoda Hospital, in neighbouring Nalgonda district. The police suspect the kidnappers threw the doctor’s mobile phone at Durajpalli and it was recovered from a villager who had picked it up from the roadside.

Following the recovery of the phone, the police intensified checking along the Hyderabad-Suryapet highway in Nalgonda district.

US Embassy announces new visa processing system

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Indians applying for US visa can now look forward to a hassle-free process with the US Embassy today announcing a new visa processing system that simplifies fee payment and appointment schedules for the travel document.

The new system that will come into effect from September 26 will allow applicants to pay the visa application fees through Electronic Fund Transfer or with their mobile phones and collect their documents from 33 document pick-up locations in the country.

Cancer once made Chavez consider leaving politics

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged Tuesday that he thought about abandoning public life after discovering he had cancer in June 2011, for which he had to be operated three times.

“At a certain moment I began to think that, yes, that I’d have to leave the political arena, but thank God here I am all recovered,” Chavez, 58, said in an interview on Caracas radio station Fiesta 106.5.

The Leftist head of state, who took office in 1999, said that he feels well and takes good care of himself, exercising, studying a lot and carrying out his duties as president.

Chidambaram undergoes successful operation

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Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has undergone a successful ‘hernia repair laparoscopic procedure’ and is recovering well, a hospital bulletin said Wednesday.

The Minister underwent the procedure last evening, the bulletin issued by Apollo Hospital, where he was admitted yesterday, said.

“He is recovering well and will be discharged within a day,” it added.

–PTI

Japan to buy disputed islands

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The Japanese government is in talks to buy the disputed Diaoyu Islands from a family that claims to own them, media reports said Wednesday.

The central government has reached an agreement to pay 2.05 billion yen ($26.15 million) for the purchase of part of the chain of the islands in the East China Sea, reported Xinhua.

Kyodo reported that the government and the Kurihara family will exchange an official contract on the purchase possibly by the end of this month.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Nagahama had secretly negotiated with a member of the Kurihara family Monday.

Pak realises it is time to befriend India: Amin Mughal

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Pakistan’s establishment has realised that it is now time for it to befriend India so that it may thrust forward in central Asia, a leading Pakistani intellectual and political activist has said.

“Pakistan establishment has realized that it is time now to befriend India so that they may thrust forward in Central Asia,” Professor Amin Mughal said at a function organised to launch Subhash Chopra’s book ‘Partition, South Asia after bin Laden, Jihad and Peace’ at the Nehru centre here.

No clear Pakistani policy on terror: Daily

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There is “no clear state policy in sight” on terrorism, said a leading Pakistani daily that called upon the media to form a narrative that is independent of the state’s and is based on factual reporting.

An editorial in the Dawn Wednesday said that the extent to which extremist groups have managed to proliferate in Pakistan and the impunity with which they operate pose challenges on many fronts.

Pak: Court notice to Zardari on dual office case

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Amid controversy over Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s dual office, the Lahore High Court Wednes issued a notice to him to explain by September 14 why he had not followed its direction to relinquish the political post of co-chairman of the ruling PPP.

A four-judge bench headed by the High Court Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial issued the notice to the President through his Principal Secretary.

“We ask the President to tell the court as to why he did not follow the High Court’s direction of leaving political office of his party,” Bandial said.

Amir targeting 2015 return to international cricket

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Pakistan`s banned pacer Mohammad Amir is hoping to be allowed back in international cricket in 2015, when he would complete a minimum five-year ban for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that shook the game.

The 20-year old, appearing in his first television interview to a Pakistani channel on Tuesday, insisted he has learnt from his mistakes.

New visa regime to top India-Pakistan talks

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India and Pakistan will discuss the roadmap of bilateral relations when their foreign ministers meet in Islamabad Saturday, with a new visa regime likely to top the agenda.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna arrives in Islamabad Friday for talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.

A high point of the three-day visit could be the signing of a visa pact, but the two sides have not given a final confirmation.

It is not about the money: Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed the notion that his post-match declaration of “sadness” on Sunday evening was related to a desire for a new and improved contract at Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old scored a double as Los Blancos beat Granada 3-0, but Ronaldo`s refusal to celebrate his 149th and 150th goals for the club stole the headlines.

In a statement on his personal Twitter account the 27-year-old added further mystery as to the source of his apparent dismay in the Spanish capital, while insisting he would continue to give his all for Madrid.

Sachin Tendulkar not finished as yet: Manjrekar

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With age not on his side, Sachin Tendulkar has become vulnerable to full length deliveries but he is “not finished” as yet and is still good enough to score runs at the highest level, feels former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

Tendulkar, 40, was bowled thrice in four innings in the just concluded India-New Zealand Test series, prompting many to announce his end as a quality batsman.

Manjrekar felt that Tendulkar still adds value to Indian batting line-up and he must be a part of the Indian side which will tour South Africa in November.

US Open: Victoria Azarenka defeats defending champion Samantha Stosur

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Victoria Azarenka defeated defending champion Samantha Stosur 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to move to the semi-final of the US Open on Tuesday.

Victoria Azarenka kept chiding herself: “Don`t be a chicken.”

So when she faced a break point against the defending US Open champion late in the final set, Azarenka didn`t care that she hadn`t hit an ace all day. She knocked a booming serve down the middle, the ball barely clipping the line out of Sam Stosur`s reach.

Pushed to the limit, the world`s top-ranked player hung tough in Tuesday`s quarterfinals for a victory in a third-set tiebreaker.

Improve quality of education: Prez on Teachers Day

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Honouring meritorious teachers with the national award on Teachers Day, President Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said it is important to improve the quality of education in the country.

“To build the India of our dreams, the first and foremost task before us is to improve the quality of education,” Mukherjee said in his speech at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The day is celebrated every year on Sep 5, marking the birthday of India’s first vice president and second president, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

Shinde dismisses Uddhav Thackeray’s remark against Biharis

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Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today dismissed Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray’s comments against Biharis living in Maharashtra, saying every citizen has the right to travel freely across the country.
“It is not in the interest of the nation to violate the provisions of the Constitution,” Shinde told reporters here when asked to comment on Thackeray’s remarks.

“Every citizen had the right to travel freely across the country. Our Constitution has given equal right to all,” he said.

SP, BSP MPs involved in scuffle in RS over quota bill

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Rajya Sabha today witnessed high drama as a scuffle broke out between SP and BSP members when the government introduced a contentious Constitution amendment bill to provide reservation in promotion to SCs and STs in government jobs.

The bill, which seeks to circumvent a Supreme Court order quashing such a decision of Uttar Pradesh government in April, seeks to bring certainty and clarity in the matter by substituting a clause of Article 16 of the Constitution.

US daily Washington Post calls Manmohan Singh a ‘tragic figure’

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been described as “a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government” by a leading US daily.

In an article “India’s ‘silent’ prime minister becomes a tragic figure”, the Washington Post said Manmohan Singh helped set India on the path to modernity, prosperity and power, but critics say the shy, soft-spoken 79-year-old is in “danger of going down in history as a failure”.

BJP promises T, if comes to power at centre

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Bharatya Janata Party has promised formation of separate Telangana statehood within three month of coming to power at the centre. This was assured by party’s senior leader Sushma Swaraj to a group of activists who were on a day-long dharna at Jantar Mantar.

Addressing the Andhra Pradesh party activists from Telangana region Sushma Swaraj said “within three months of BJP coming to power at the centre, we will form Telangana state.’

She advised the people not to trust UPA anymore who went back on its promise of Telangana formation.

Both Congress and BJP against quota in promotions bill: Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati Wednesday said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party had “political motives” against reservations in job promotions for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and had so far prevented the passage of a legislation in this regard.

A constitution amendment bill to amend Article 16(4) of the Constitution to remove the term “inadequate representation” to enable reservations in promotions and appointments was tabled in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.

Bangladesh seek confidence booster ahead of World T20

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The world’s top-rated ODI all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, says Bangladesh is aiming for a confidence-boosting performance in this week’s international T20 Tournament in Trinidad ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Barbados, Afghanistan and Trinidad and Tobago are the other teams taking part in the four-nation Asia versus the Caribbean tournament from the sixth to the eighth of September at the Queens Park Oval here, CMC reports.