News

Clinton meets Israeli, Palestinian leaders in new peace push

by

Sharm-El-Sheikh, September 14: The United States on Tuesday reiterated its call for Israel to extend a freeze on settlements as it said Israel and the Palestinians began tackling core issues in new peace talks.

On her first visit to the Middle East since launching the talks in Washington on September 2, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

ICC to review its anti-corruption measures

by

Cape Town, September 14: The ICC today termed the recent spot-fixing allegations involving Pakistani players as a “warning” and said it will recommend a wide-ranging and, if necessary, independent review of the current anti-corruption measures to maintain the integrity of the sport.

In a statement issued after a meeting of International Cricket Council’s Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) here, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said the governing body would try to engage governments in its bid to tackle curruption in the game.

15 dead, 36 survive Venezuela plane crash

by

Caracas, September 14: Fifteen people died in a plane crash in eastern Venezuela, but 36 others miraculously survived after the pilot alerted air traffic control that something was wrong moments before disaster struck.

The plane, carrying 47 passengers and four crew from the resort city of Isla Margarita, burst into flames as it hit the ground near a steel works owned by the Sidor group in Bolivar state.

“In total we have 36 survivors and 15 dead. The survivors are being looked after,” said Transport and Communications Minister Francisco Garces.

Rahul against alliance without dignity

by

Basirhat (WB), September 14: Without naming Trinamool Congress, Rahul Gandhi today said Congress will not go for any alliance without dignity in the coming Assembly polls in West Bengal, but was hopeful of a proposed tie-up.

“There will not be any unrespectable alliance and I hope we will be able to make the alliance, as proposed, happen in West Bengal before the coming Assembly election,” Gandhi told a closed-door meeting of the North 24-Parganas district Youth Congress.

BJP demands removal of Omar Abdullah Government

by

Mumbai, September 14: The BJP today demanded removal of the Omar Abdullah-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir, holding its responsible for the unrest in the valley. “The Abdullah-led Government in Kashmir has failed to bring peace in the state and therefore it has to be removed,” BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said here.

Other jobs too than becoming PM: Rahul

by

Santiniketan, September 14: Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said becoming the prime minister is not the only ‘job’ in the world and that there were many other jobs a person could do.

The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family responded in this fashion deflecting a pointed query during an interaction at the Visva Bharati University here as to what he would do for the job prospects of fine arts students studying classical dance in the event of his becoming prime minister and Chancellor of Visva Bharati University.

Hearing put off in Babri case

by

Rae Bareli, September 14: Further hearing in the Babri mosque demolition case before a special CBI court was deferred today as the notification for nomination of a judge was still to be issued by the High Court.

The matter was not taken up today as the notification regarding nomination of a judge was yet to be issued by the High Court, prosecution sources said.

The next hearing would take place on October five, they said.

IPS officer Anju Gupta, who was deployed as security officer with BJP leader L K Advani, will be cross-examined by the defence counsel when the hearing resumes.

Madani’s custody extended to Sep 28

by

Bangalore, September 14:: A local court today extended to September 28 the judicial custody of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case.

Though some of the other accused in the case were produced before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Venkatesh Hulagi through video conferencing, the People’s Democratic Party leader was not produced in court.

Hulagi then directed jail authorities to produce Madani through video conferencing on September 28 and extended the judicial custody of all 14 accused, including Madani to that date.

No change in our ideology on Ram Temple issue: BJP

by

New Delhi, September 14: Claiming there was no change in its ideology on the Ram temple issue, the BJP today said it will make any comments on the contentious matter only after the court verdict that is expected to be out soon.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain was replying to questions by mediapersons on what the party had to say on RSS
chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment that the Ram Mandir movement had helped BJP but the Sangh was not looking for help from anyone to run its movement.

Promote Hindi words in sci and tech sector: Ansari

by

New Delhi, September 14: There is an urgent need to promote Hindi words in science and technology sector by developing related softwares, Vice President M Hamid Ansari said today.

Speaking on the occasion of ‘Hindi Day’, he said scientists should be encouraged to contribute articles in the national language.

“There is an imminent need to develop and promote Hindi words in science and technology. Lot is being done already but more has to be done systematically in this direction,” he said at a function organised by the Home Ministry to mark the Day today.

Situation in J-K alarming, says Advani

by

New Delhi, September 14: Terming the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as “alarming”, BJP leader L K Advani today said the state administration had “completely collapsed” and the UPA government was about to “capitulate” before Pakistan- supported secessionists.

Modi wants BCCI to halt proceedings pending HC order

by

Mumbai, September 14: Suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi has asked the Cricket Board to halt the BCCI’s disciplinary committee proceedings against him till the Bombay High court pronounces its order tomorrow on his petition filed against a couple of the committee members in the panel.

Modi had asked for recusal of two of the panel members – Arun Jaitley and Chirayu Amin – by claiming they were biased against him and the court today reserved the judgement on his petition till tomorrow.

Maoist bandh: 1killed in WB, railways hit in Bihar

by

Patna, September 14: Maoists shot dead a man in West Bengal and set off a blast partially damaging tracks in Bihar on the second day of their two-day bandh in six states.

The body of the unidentified man was found this morning. He had been assaulted before being shot dead at Jhargram town in West Midnapore district in West Bengal, police sources said.

Posters left beside the body by Maoists said that the man was affiliated to the CPI(M) and a police informer, the sources said.

Israel allows spare parts, engine oil into Gaza

by

Gaza, September 14: Israel allowed car spare parts and engine oil into Gaza for the first time in three years as part of relaxation of its blockade, a Palestinian official said.

One truck carrying car spare parts and five trucks carrying engine oil entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing in southeast Gaza Strip, Xinhua quoted Raed Fatouh, a border liaison officer, as saying.

Monday’s shipment is a prelude to allowing cars into Gaza after more than three years of banning, Fatouh said.

UAE firm to support Pakistan relief efforts

by

Sharjah, September 14: An aviation company in the United Arab Emirates said Monday it will not charge for transporting UN World Food Programme (WFP) relief material for Pakistan’s flood-affected areas.

‘This national disaster in Pakistan has caught the world’s attention. As an organisation that has been involved in some large cargo movements, we could not just stand and be onlookers,’ said Saleh Al Aroud Managing, director of RUS Aviation.

Youth enacts kidnap drama to marry lover

by

Hyderabad, September 14: A prominent jeweller of Old City, Mr Hemanth Kumar Gupta’s son Yash Gupta was reportedly abducted by some unidentified persons on Monday night and the kidnappers allegedly demanded Rs 2.5-crore ransom to set the boy free.

The abductors used the victim’s mobile and threatened the parents of dire consequences if they dared to disclose the information either to the police or the media.

200,000 Palestinians helped by UAE group

by

Abu Dhabi, September 14: A humanitarian organisation in the United Arab Emirates helped about 200,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during Ramadan.

The Khalifa bin Zayed Humanitarian Foundation (KZHF), in cooperation with UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, distributed food supplies for more than 13 thousand family living in 19 Palestinian refugee camps.

-IANS

Rahul Gandhi says he gets 5,000 letters a day

by

Santiniketan, September 14: Officially just a Lok Sabha member and Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi gets 5,000 letters a day from people on varied issues.

The young leader, who admits it is not possible to go through all the letters, said at an interaction here Tuesday that he was open to guiding those who write to him, suggesting solutions, projects and programmes for various problems.

Gandhi’s comments came during a lively 75-minute question-answer session with the students of Visva-Bharati University here. The media was barred from the session.

RSS chief slams PC ‘saffron terror’ remark

by

New Delhi, September 14: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Rao Bhagwat Tuesday slammed Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s “saffron terror” comment, saying it sends out “wrong message” to the world about India.

“The word saffron terror doesn’t exist for me. The Home Minister’s comment on saffron terror is sending out a wrong message to the world like Pakistan being called a rogue state. Do you want India also to be called so,” Bhagwat told reporters at the Indian Women’s Press Corps here.

Book Tatkal ticket from mobile GPRS

by

Hyderabad, September 14: In this festive season, people are getting frustrated to get a ticket to travel for their destination. Even after standing in a serpentine queue for a long period patiently, you are told that Tatkal ticket is over once you reach to the ticket window.

As a result, you will be spending more money to travel to get the same from other sources. But, now you can book your railway Tatkal ticket from your mobile GPRS by downloading atom applications.

Srikakulam can’t be treated as laboratory: Chiranjeevi

by

Srikakulam, September 14: The Praja Rajyam party (PRP) president, Mr K. Chiranjeevi, has commented that the Srikakulam district could not be treated by the State government as a laboratory to do all kinds of experiments.

The actor-turned-politician started his “Praja Chaitanya Yatra” in the district from Ichapuram on Tuesday.

Rosaiah assures protection to industry as Telengana hots up

by

Hyderabad, September 14: With the Telangana issue hotting up again, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Tuesday assured full protection to the industry.

Addressing the captains of Indian industry, Rosaiah said Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh were safe places for investment. He said steps would be taken to ensure that the agitation for a separate Telengana state does not come in the way of development.

Rahul Gandhi says he gets 5,000 letters a day

by

Santiniketan, September 14: Officially just a Lok Sabha member and Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi gets 5,000 letters a day from people on varied issues.

The young leader, who admits it is not possible to go through all the letters, said at an interaction here Tuesday that he was open to guiding those who write to him, suggesting solutions, projects and programmes for various problems.

Gandhi’s comments came during a lively 75-minute question-answer session with the students of Visva-Bharati University here. The media was barred from the session.