News

About 70 % voting in repolling at 12 booths in Karnataka

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An estimated 70 per cent of the electorate today cast their vote in the re-polling held at 12 polling stations across nine Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.

“We have estimated 65 to 70 per cent voter turnout at re-polling held in 12 polling stations today,” Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told PTI.

“Polling was normal and peaceful,” he added.

The CEO had recommended re-polling at 11 polling stations due to technical problems in EVMs and polling station at Turuvekere in Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency because of human error committed by election officials.

Australian gallery will not contest India’s antique idols claim

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The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) would not contest the Indian government’s request for return of antique idols, the Indian high commission said Tuesday.

Tarun Kumar, first secretary in India’s high commission in Australia, said he expected a decision to be made regarding the return of the artefacts within a month, Canberra Times reported Tuesday.

He added that the deadline has now passed and it has been reported that the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) and the Art Gallery of New South Wales will not contest the Indian government’s request for the return of the idols.

No peace with Israel without defining borders: Abbas

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There can be no peace with Israel without first defining the borders of a future Palestinian state, president Mahmud Abbas said today.

“Since the creation of Israel, nobody knows what the borders are. We are determined to know our borders and theirs, without that there will be no peace,” he said as Washington’s nine-month deadline for reaching a peace deal expired, leaving the process in tatters.

In a televised address, Abbas laid out his conditions for returning to the crisis-hit peace talks with Israel which have made no progress since they were launched on July 29 last year.

NGT halts dumping of waste in Dheerpur wetland

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Tuesday restrained the release of any sewage or sludge in and around water bodies at Dheerpur here and issued notice to the central and city governments on a plea seeking protection of wetlands in the national capital.

Russia calls recent Western military activity unprecedented

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Russia Tuesday accused the United States and NATO of staging “unprecedented” military activity near its borders.

In a telephone conversation with his US counterpart, Chuck Hagel, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Western military activity had been growing substantially, and was “accompanied by provocative statements”, Xinhua reported citing the Russian defence ministry.

Shoigu’s remarks came after NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said earlier April 15 that the bloc had decided to take “further military measures” to respond to the crisis in Ukraine.

Hottest April 29 in Delhi since 2010, Wednesday to be hotter

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Delhi experienced the hottest April 29 since 2010 as Tuesday’s maximum temperature settled at 41 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average. Hot weather is expected in the city Wednesday too, the Met office said.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in 2010 too was 41 degrees.

Delhi residents had a tough time as the city reeled under the scorching sun and the sky remained clear through the day. Those riding two-wheelers in particular were seen covered in scarves to protect themselves.

Ansari-Rai pact an ‘unholy vote-bank alliance’: BJP

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With Mukhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal deciding to support Congress candidate Ajai Rai against Narendra Modi from this Lok Sabha constituency, BJP today alleged it was an “unholy alliance at the altar of vote bank politics”.

BJP, whose Prime Ministerial candidate is in fray from Varanasi as well as Vadodara seats, said Congress party has sealed this pact as it was unable to counter the “massive support and popularity” of Modi in this holy city.

Sharara to step down as ITTF president

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International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) president Adham Sharara will step down from his presidency Sep 1.

ITTF Tuesday said Sharara will be replaced by Thomas Weikert, now deputy president of ITTF and also the head of the German Table Tennis Association, reports Xinhua.

Sharara will announce his plans to step down from his presidency at a press conference which will be held in the Yoyogi Gymnasium Wednesday.
(IANS)

Rajasthan Royals elect to bat against Knight Riders

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Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Watson won the toss and elected to bat against Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here Tuesday.

Squads:
Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Sanju Samson, Shane Watson (captain), Stuart Binny, Steven Smith, Rajat Bhatia, James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Pravin Tambe, Iqbal Abdulla.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Manvinder Bisla, Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav.
(IANS)

TDP is actually ‘Telugu Destruction Party’: Brinda Karat

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In a scathing attack on Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat said the TDP actually stands for ‘Telugu Destruction Party’ since it has paved the way for communal forces to gain ground in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters while campaigning for the Gajuwaka CPM contestant Narasinga Rao, Karat attacked BJP as well as Congress, alleging that both parties are two sides of the same coin and that the country deserved an alternative which the CPM could provide.

Pak to cut off power supply to PM office, Prez House over dues

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Electricity supply to 18 key government buildings in Pakistan, including the President House and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, was today ordered to be disconnected for non-payment of bills running into several crores.

Power supply to Parliament Lodges and the official residence of the Chief Justice was also ordered to be disconnected.

Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali issued the order and said electricity connections to all institutions and individual consumers who have not paid their bills will be disconnected.

Indonesia says ready to host 2019 Asian Games

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A top sports official of Indonesia Tuesday confirmed that the country will officially express its readiness to host the 18th Asian Games in 2019 during the visit of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) May 5.

“The team of OCA will visit Indonesia May 5 and see if we are ready. We will express our readiness to host the games,” Indonesian Youth and Sport Minister Roy Suryo said, reports Xinhua.

The Minister added that Indonesia has received the offer from the Asian sport governing body, OCA after Vietnam gave up their hosting rights for the regional games due to economic reasons.

Imran Khan-backed T20 league gets PCB nod

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Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been given the green signal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to organise a Twenty20 league next month.

A PCB spokesman said that the organisers have been given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC), revealed the Express Tribune.

The league named ‘Love Pakistan Peace Cricket League 2014’ is expected to be played across five cricketing centres including Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar between May 3-18.

India-born Rajeev Suri named Nokia CEO

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Finnish technology giant Nokia Tuesday named India-born Rajeev Suri as its chief executive officer (CEO).

“As Nokia opens this new chapter, the Nokia Board and I are confident that Rajeev is the right person to lead the company forward,” said Risto Siilasmaa, chairman of the Nokia board of directors, in a statement Tuesday.

Aus exploration company says it may have found missing MH370

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An Australian marine exploration firm today claimed that it has found the wreckage of the crashed Malaysian jet in the Bay of Bengal, 5,000 km away from the current search location in the Indian Ocean.

Adelaide-based GeoResonance yesterday said it had begun its own search for the missing flight MH370 on March 10, the Star newspaper reported.

Iraq election necessary to end crisis: deputy PM

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Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq stressed the necessity of parliamentary election in the country to get out of the current crisis situation, a media report said Tuesday.

“If Iraqis go to vote, Iraq will change and if they don’t, the country will stay as it is now and will worsen. The future of Iraq solely depends on these elections,” al-Mutlaq told Xinhua.

Mutlaq leads the secular Iraqiya coalition, which consists of the National Iraqi Dialogue Front and eight other entities and has many supporters in Sunni areas.

Pawan Kalyan booked for remarks against TRS chief

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A case was today registered against Jana Sena president and Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan for his alleged derogatory comments against TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, police said.

The case was registered in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh against.

Based on a private complaint, a local court in Nizamabad had yesterday directed the police to probe the matter. Accordingly, Dichpally police booked a case against Pawan Kalyan under relevant sections of the IPC, Police Inspector Venkateshwarlu said.

Five securitymen shot dead in Pakistan by bank robbers

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At least five security personnel and a robber were killed in an exchange of fire Tuesday in Pakistan, a media report said. Four others were injured in the firing.

The security officials fired at armed robbers who had looted money from a private bank located in Mastung bazar, in Balochistan, and were fleeing, Dawn online reported.

The robbers retaliated to the firing by the security officials and a fire fight followed.

An assistant commissioner and a deputy superintendent of police were among those injured.

The police have arrested two robbers.
(IANS)

BJP demands white paper on Trinamool’s Saradha connections

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Condemning the Trinamool Congress for launching personal attacks on its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the BJP Tuesday demanded a white paper on West Bengal ruling party’s connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

Interacting with media persons here, Bharatiya Janata Party state unit chief Rahul Sinha sought to know why the Trinamool was rattled by the questions regarding sale of party chief Mamata Banerjee’s paintings for a whopping price and demanded it come clean on the chit fund scam.

Cristiano is TAG Heuer brand ambassador

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World’s leading watchmaker TAG Heuer has signed up football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as its brand ambassador.

“TAG Heuer is by far the best at what it does and has been for more than 150 years. No other luxury brand has such strong ties to the highest levels of sports. It is incredibly glamorous yet also so unconventional, and we share exactly the same determination: to totally change the game, push the limits and make our own rules. It is a great honour to be a part of such a powerful and pioneering legacy,” said Cristiano.

Trinamool MP apologises for ‘development for votes’ remark

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Trinamool Congress MP and Bengali film actress Satabdi Roy tendered an unconditional apology to the Election Commission after it slapped a show cause notice for her speech, poll officials said Tuesday.

The commission had Monday issued notice to Roy following her address at a party rally in West Bengal’s Birbhum district where she stated that priority for development will be given to those areas from which she corners the maximum number of votes.

Telecom tribunal allows 3G roaming pacts

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The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) Tuesday allowed telecom service providers to provide 3G services beyond their licensed areas, quashing an earlier decision by the government.

The DoT issued notice to telecom operators asking them to stop 3G inter-circle roaming service. It also had put a cumulative penalty of around Rs.1,200 crore, which TDSAT quashed.

SC appoints third arbitrator in RIL gas dispute case

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The Supreme Court Tuesday appointed Australia’s Justice (retd.) Michael Hudson McHugh to chair the arbitration proceedings in disputes between Reliance Industries and the Indian government over the shortfall in gas production in the KG basin and its consequential implications.

A bench headed by Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar named Justice McHugh as the third arbitrator, and the chairman of the arbitration panel after the earlier former Australian judge James Jacob Spigelman had to be withdrawn as his name figured in the list of names suggested by the RIL as possible third arbitrator.

Attacks on northeast people, threat to society: President

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Expressing sadness over attacks on youths from the northeastern region in the national capital, President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said the “pluralistic character” of the country must not be weakened.

“It is unfortunate that the capital city of Delhi had some time back witnessed certain tragic incidents of attacks on young people from the northeast,” Mukherjee said at the 14th convocation of Manipur University here.