News

Nothing wrong in promoting Marathi, but don’t kill Hindi and Bhojpuri

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Mumbai, August 17: Former Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh on Monday said he saw nothing wrong in Raj Thackeray’s pro-Marathi stand, but maintained that it should not be at the cost of other regional languages like Hindi and Bhojpuri.

“Maharashtra is a great state. There is nothing wrong in promoting Marathi. But, at the same time do not kill Hindi and Bhojpuri,” he said to reporters in neighbouring Virar in Thane district.

The comments came against the backdrop of the MNS chief taking up the issue of Marathi filmmakers.

Fired by Obama, hired by Yale

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Washington, August 17: Former United States commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, who was fired for his disparaging remarks against Obama administration officials, is to teach at Yale University.

McChrystal, 55, has been given a teaching position at Yale University, which will commence this year.

McChrystal would be appointed a senior fellow with the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and he would start teaching this fall, a statement from varsity said on Monday.

McChrystal will be teaching a graduate level seminar in the international relations master’s programme.

Jet breaks into 3 Pieces, 1 dead

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Bogota, August 17: A Columbian aircraft carrying 131 passengers, including six crew members, broke into three pieces on Monday morning at San Andres Island. All but one person survived the crash.

San Andres Gov. Pedro Gallardo said of the fact that the only person killed was Amar Fernandez de Barreto, 65, who is believed to have died of heart attack.

Court puts curbs on Gujarat cop’s arrest

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Gandhinagar, August 17: The Gujarat High Court Monday restrained the state police from arresting an additional director general of police (ADGP) in connection with a 26-year-old suspected staged shootout.

Justice R.H. Shukla ordered the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest ADGP Kuldip Sharma till a hearing Aug 20.

Sharma, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer, is posted as the managing director of the Gujarat Sheep and Wool Development Corporation since November 2009.

Taliban stone Afghan couple to death for adultery

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Kabul, August 17: Taliban forces have stoned a couple to death for adultery in a public execution.

With Nato and UN officials in Kabul poring over the latest Taliban proposal to establish a joint commission to investigate civilian casualties, officials in the north of the country were detailing a killing that Amnesty International described as the first confirmed stoning in the country since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Militants ordered the stoning after a married man and a single woman in Dasht-e-Archi district, Kunduz province, were accused of eloping.

Promotional advt featuring Bachchan released by Modi

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Ahmedabad, August 16: Three short advertisements promoting Gujarat tourism and featuring superstar Amitabh Bachchan were today released at a function here by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Bachchan was also present for the launch of the advertisements called ‘Khushboo Gujarat ki’ (Fragrance of Gujarat), an official release said.

The ads highlighted white desert of Kutch, Gir sanctuary and historic Somnath temple.

Bachchan had agreed to be brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism and had shot for promotional advertisements at various locations in Gujarat between May 28 and June 5.

AP Minister congratulates Indian Idol-5 Sreeram

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Hyderabad, August 16: Andhra Pradesh Information Minister J Geeta Reddy today congratulated Sreeram Chandra Mynampati, winner of the singing reality show ‘Indian Idol-5.

“Sreeram has made Telugu people proud,” she said in a statement here tonight.

Earlier, Chief minister K Rosaiah and several other leaders and celebrities had congratulated Sreeram.

The 25-year-old city-based singer was declared winner of the show on Sony TV last night in Mumbai. He beat Bhoomi Trivedi and Rakesh Maini, the two other contestants who had made it to the last three of the popular show.

MHA officials receive dangerous computer virus

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New Delhi, August 16: A malicious mail containing a dangerous computer virus from the email ID of the Indian Ambassador in Uzbekistan to some senior officials of the Home Ministry has sent alarm bells ringing in the security establishment here.

It is feared that the mail box of the diplomat may have been compromised by hackers.
The ‘trojan’ virus concealed inside a sham list of indigenous Indian terrorists has even escaped the Trend Micro Anti-virus software deployed by the government’s IT arm National Informatics Centre (NIC) in the official computers.

Karnataka blames Kerala for delay over Madani’s arrest

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Kollam (Ker),August 16: Karnataka and Kerala were today locked in a blame game as uncertainty over the arrest of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in 2008 Bangalore blasts case, continued for the seventh day.

Two senior police officials from Bangalore arrived here this morning fuelling speculation that Madani would be arrested today, but amid drama and suspense a medical team from a private hospital examined Madani, who is said to be suffering from fever, at his camp in nearby Anwarassery.

CWC discusses Kashmir, party chief’s election

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New Delhi, August 16: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is Sep 21 expected to be formally elected for her fourth term in office, with the Congress Working Committee (CWC) Monday deciding the schedule for the election. The meeting also discussed the situation in Kashmir.

The CWC meeting, attended by Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was briefed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram about the developments in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting also observed a minute’s silence and passed a condolence resolution for people who lost their lives in the Leh cloudburst and rail accidents.

Sehwag powers India to win with unbeaten 99

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Dambul, August 16: Virender Sehwag cracked a robust 99 not out to help India post a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the triangular one-day series on Monday. The opener hit two sixes and 11 fours in his 100-ball knock as India raced to the 171-run target with more than 15 overs to spare in the day-night match for their first win in two matches.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka also have one win each in two matches. Each side will play the other twice in the preliminary league before the top two qualify for the final on August 28.

Osama probably buried in Pak mountains’

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Washington, August 16: A top US General has said Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is probably hiding in the remote mountainous regions of Pakistan, even though no one known where he actually is.

“I think he remains an iconic figure, and I think capturing or killing Osama bin Laden is still a very, very important task for all of those who are engaged in counter terrorism around the world,” General David Petraeus Commander of US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan told NBC television’s “Meet the Press” when asked about the Al Qaeda leader’s whereabouts.

Ban on CPI (Maoist) continues in Andhra Pradesh

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Hyderabad, August 16: Extending the ban on CPI (Maoist) and six of its frontal organisations for one more year with effect from Tuesday (Aug 17).

The ban was imposed under the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 1992.

Besides CPI (Maoist), its frontal organisations — Radical Youth League, Ryot Coolie Sangham, Radical Students Union, Singareni Karmika Samakhya, Viplava Karmika Sangham and All India Revolutionary Students Federation — have been banned for a further period of one year.

Mayawati govt under attack over Aligarh violence

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Aligarh/New Delhi, August 16: A day after three persons were killed in police firing on agitating farmers, the opposition parties today stepped up attack on Mayawati Government demanding its dismissal and disrupted Parliament proceedings.

Hundreds of agitating farmers continued their indefinite sit-in in Jikarpur village, where police had opened fire yesterday on rampaging protesters, to press for higher compensation for land acquired for a township along Taj Expressway.

SC adjourns hearing on common syllabus in TN schools

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New Delhi, August 16: The Supreme court today adjourned by two weeks the hearing on an appeal filed by the association of private schools in Tamil Nadu challenging the introduction of a common syllabus for all schools.

A Bench of Justices P Sathashivan and B S Chauhan adjourned the matter after the counsel for the schools sought permission to place additional documents.

The Association has questioned the state government’s decision to introduce from this academic year a common syllabus for all the schools in entire state.

Madani moves Supreme Court, seeks stay on his arrest

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New Delhi, August 16: Kerala-based People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Madani has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on his arrest in connection with 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case.

Madani has sought anticipatory bail which was rejected by the Karnataka high court on August 3.

The petition is likely to be listed for mentioning tomorrow, his advocate Adolf Mathew said. The lawyer said the PDP leader has challenged the grounds taken by the high court in rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.

Madani has been evading arrest since the high court dismissed his plea.

Afghan Taliban call for joint probe into civilian deaths

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Kabul, August 16: The Taliban waging a vicious insurgency in Afghanistan have signaled a willingness to cooperate with international forces, the UN and human rights groups to investigate civilian deaths in the war.

A committee “should be formed to assess the very issue and conduct investigations into the civilian casualties across the country,” the Taliban said in a statement late last night.

Sonia all set to be re-elected as Congress President

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New Delhi, August 16: Sonia Gandhi is all set to be re-elected as the Congress President on September 17.

The schedule for the party chief’s election was finalised at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here today.

As per the schedule, the date for notification of the polls is August 27, last date for filing nominations is September 2, scrutiny will be held on September 3, last date of withdrawal is September 10, and date of polls, if necessary, is September 17.

Counting of votes will be held on September 21.

CWG venues to be ready by August 25, says Randhir

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New Delhi, August 16: Satisfied with the preparation of Commonwealth Games venues, Organising Committee vice-chairman Randhir Singh today said all the stadiums are in “top-class shape” and will be ready by August 25.

Randhir, who visited the venues alongwith OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, said little bit of finishing work which remains will be completed in a weeks time.

“It has given me personal satisfaction to inspect each and every venue except for the Khadarpur shooting range.

Cong membership down to 2.9 cr from 4 cr

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New Delhi, August 16: Congress membership has dwindled substantially coming down to just over 2.9 crore as against four crore earlier.

The fall in numbers has been attributed to the party’s strict adherence for photo-identity cards, thereby weeding out bogus members.

Congress is the oldest political party in the country, which will be completing 125 years this year.

The facts about membership were revealed after the Congress Working Committee meeting here, which finalised the schedule for the party chief’s election.

Women Commission team meets tribal girl

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Suri (WB), August 16: A six-member team of West Bengal State Women’s Commission today met the tribal girl who was paraded naked and pictures of the incident circulated through MMS by some villagers in Birbhum district.

The six-member team led by Women’s Commission chairperson Malini Bhattacharya met the girl at the Government Home at Rampurhat, where she is presently putting up after the incident became public.

The team also visited the girl’s native village Bartala and talked to her family members and the villagers.

Twenty-day Mysore racing season from Aug 19

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Mysore, August 16:A total stake money of Rs 4.6 crore will beoffered for the 20-day Mysore races commending from August 19 here.

Newly elected Mysore race club Chairman Mr Chanduranga Kantharaj Urs told newsmen here for Derby and other classic races, the stake money has been increased and the winner would earnRs 37 lakh. The stake money for both 1000 and 2000 Guineas races was also being increased from Rs 10 lakh to 20 lakh, and for Mysore million from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Sharapova out of Montreal, hopes to be fit for US Open

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MOSCOW, August 16:Maria Sharapova has pulled out of this week’s WTA tournament in Montreal with a heel injury, the Russian said today.

Sharapova hurt her foot in the Cincinnati Open final defeat against Kim Clijsters on Sunday but was hoping the injury would heal ahead of the final grand slam of the year, the US Open starting on August 30.

I felt some pain in my foot late in the second set which kind of scared me so I have been forced to pull out of Montreal,” the former world number one said on her official website (www.mariasharapova.com).Reuters

Bidar, Srirampura recorded 9 cm rainfall each

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Bangalore, August 16:Following is a Summary of observations recorded by the weather office here at 0830 hrs today.

Southwest monsoon was active over Interior Karnataka and weak over Coastal Karnataka.

Rainfall occurred at most places over Coastal Karnataka.

Heavy rainfall amounts (cm): Bidar, Srirampura 9 each; Rabkavi, Deodurg 8 each; Gersoppa, Kottigehara, Sandur 7 each.
Chief rainfall amounts (cm): Jayapura, Hosadurga, YN Hoskote 6 each; Dharmasthala, Subramanya, Agumbe, Srinivaspura, Challakere 5 each; Belthangady, Athani, Dudda, Siruguppa, Bellary, Nayakanahatti

Pakistanis block highways to protest slow flood aid By Robert Birsel

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SUKKUR, Pakistan, August 16:Pakistani flood victims, burning straw and waving sticks, blocked a highway today to demand government help as aid agencies warned relief was too slow to arrive for millions without clean water, food and homes.

Public anger has grown in the two weeks of floods, highlighting potential political troubles for an unpopular government overwhelmed by a disaster that has disrupted the lives of at least a tenth of its 170 million people.