News

Top priority to women, farmer welfare: CM

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Hyderabad, August 16: Reiterating that the government would continue all welfare schemes launched for the benefit of poor and middle class people, Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Sunday stated the government would give top priority for the welfare of women and farmers programmes.

Addressing the gathering after unfurling the Tri-Colour for the first time after assuming charge at Parade Grounds to mark the 64th Independence Day celebrations, Mr Rosaiah said despite unfavourable conditions in the state, the state has registered 31 pc growth in revenue for April –June quarter this year.

Wife of Israeli PM speaks out against decision to deport 400 childrens

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Jerusalem, August 16: The Israeli prime minister’s wife said begged her husband’s administration on Sunday to not go through with a decision to deport around 400 children out of Israel in an effort to combat illegal immigration in the country, the Guardian reported.

Sara Netanyahu wrote a letter to Eli Yishai, a hardline cabinet member in charge of the deportation programme, pleading for the release of the children. The controversial decision by Yishai and others is backed by her husband.

15 Policemen Suspended For Shoe Throwing Incident

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Srinagar, August 16: Fifteen policemen including four officers were suspended by the Jammu and Kashmir Government in connection with a shoe being hurled at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by a suspended head constable today at the Independence Day function.

Official sources said the policemen four of whom who were of sub-inspector rank faced the action pending an inquiry for lax security arrangements which enabled the constable Abdul Ahad Jahan to enter the highly-secured Bakshi Stadium.

Modi praises Gujarat Police

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Rajkot, August 16: Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday lavishly praised the Gujarat Police, saying it had helped to crush terrorism in the state and beyond.

In his Independence Day address here, Modi said the Gujarat policemen had maintained peace in the state while terrorism and Maoism had laid siege to the nation.

The “brave officers and men of the Gujarat Police have done the country proud” by smashing the terrorist network blamed for the 2008 bomb attacks in the state, he said.

Obama takes plunge to show Gulf Coast is safe

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Washington, August 15: President Barack Obama took the plunge with daughter Sasha for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico to show that the BP oil spill hit Gulf Coast is open for business.

“I think we’re going to go tomorrow and as I just said Ed, I’m not going to let you guys take a picture of me with my shirt off,” Obama jokingly told CNN Saturday. “You guys will tease me just like last time. I was on the front page … People commenting.”

UN chief appeals for aid to flood-hit Pakistan

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Islamabad, August 15: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday his visit to Pakistan will help bring the world’s focus on the humanitarian crisis in the country that has resulted from one-third of its area being flood-affected.

Addressing a joint press conference with President Asif Ali Zardari after visiting the flood-hit areas, he termed the flooding the biggest disaster that he had seen anywhere in the world.

“We have appealed for an initial $460 million from the world to meet the demands in the first 90 days,” he said hoping that the response would be quick and generous.

Notice put up before Madani’s camp asking to eject outsiders

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Kollam, August 15: As suspense over arrest of PDP leaderAbdul Nasser Madani in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case continued, authorities today put up a notice before his camp at Anwarssery near here, asking the management to remove all non-regular inmates and also weapons.

The notice, signed by Tehesildar of Kunnathur taluk, asked them to fully comply with the prohibitory orders under IPC 144 in force in the area since yesterday.

TN CM writes to PM on single common entrance test

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Chennai, August 15: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider the Centre’s decision on introducing a single Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to medical courses.

Karunanidhi, in a letter to Prime Minister, argued that the move amounted to interfering with the rights of state governments.

He said there was confusion among students opting to study MBBS or post-graduation courses regarding single CET.

Capturing bin Laden still priority: Petraeus

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Washington, August 15: Capturing or killing Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is still a priority for the US, General David Petraeus, commander of the US and NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, says.

Bin Laden “remains an iconic figure and I think capturing or killing is still a very, very important task for all of those who are engaged in counter-terrorism around the world”, Xinhua reported Sunday quoting Petraeus as saying on NBC’s “Meet the Press” programme.

RSS Chief’s call to people

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Bangalore, August 15: Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), Chief Mohan Bhagwat today strongly called upon the people not to observe National Independence Day mechanically but with true spirit and pledge to serve the nation.

Speaking after unfurling the National Tricolour at ‘Rashtrotthana Parishath,’ the State Headquarters of the RSS here, Mr Bhagwat said ”Though celebration is a sign of happy and good approach in a healthy society, it should not be mechanical.

Rosaiah unfurls tri-colour at secundrabad Parade grounds

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Hyderabad, August 15: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah led the people of Andhra Pradesh in the 64th Independence Day celebrations declaring his government would continue the welfare schemes to benefit poor and minorities.

Hoisting the national tricolour for the first time after taking office, Mr Rosaiah vowed to continue the welfare schemes launched and implemented by his predecessor Y S Rajasekhara Reddy blunting his critics who had been raising doubts in a bid to confuse the people of Andhra Pradesh.

15 cops suspended for shoe thrown at Omar

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Srinagar, August 15: Fifteen personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir security wing were suspended for Sunday’s security lapse in which a former head constable flung a shoe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the Independence Day function here.

The former head constable managed to seat himself in the VIP enclosure just behind where Abdullah was standing at the high-security Bakshi Stadium. He threw a brown shoe at the chief minister and shouted pro-freedom slogans before he was forcibly taken away by security personnel.

Thief’s hand amputated in Saudi Arabia

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Riyadh, August 15: A man has had his hand amputated as punishment for robbing a shop, Saudi Arabian officials said Sunday in a statement.

The punishment was meted out Saturday in the southwest Jazan region bordering the Red Sea. The man was said to be aged 50 and from an Arab country. No further details were given.

In Saudi Arabia, which follows strict Islamic laws, corporal punishment is common, and convicted thieves often have a hand amputated.

–Agencies

Buddhadeb promises help to surrendered Maoists

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Kolkata, Aug 15 (IANS) Urging the Maoist guerillas to eschew violence and return to the mainstream, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday promised to extend help to the surrendered ultras to lead a normal life.

In his Independence Day address, Bhattacharjee asserted that violence and anarchy need to be erased to usher in the state’s development.

50,000 Bihar Muslim face bank ac problem

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Patna,August 15 :IF YOU are a financially challenged Muslim student in Bihar, even government scholarships won’t help you get a better education — not until the banks in the state change their attitude.

Thousands of poor minority students in the state have been unable to avail the central government’s sponsorship scheme because banks allegedly refused to open zero- balance accounts in their names.

Obama favors Masjid at G-ZERO

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New york,August 15 :PRESIDENT Barack Obama has come out in favour of allowing a mosque to be built near the site of the World Trade Centre, destroyed nine years ago by terrorists in hijacked airliners.

The site is near where almost 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001, after hijackers of Muslim faith flew two hijacked aeroplanes into the centre’s twin towers, which crumbled as New Yorkers fled in terror.

BJP demands JPC into corruption in CWG

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Chennai, August 15: Following allegations that the Commonwealth Games had become a cesspool of corruption, the BJP today demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee and said it would insist on it in Parliament tomorrow.

“The need of the hour is for an enquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). A simple denial by the government will not suffice. The good name of the country has to be kept. We will insist on a JPC inquiry in Parliament tomorrow,” BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said.

Rosaiah vows to continue YSR’s schemes

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Hyderabad, August 15: Amid tight security, Andhra Pradesh celebrated the 64th Independence Day with Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, declaring that he would continue the welfare schemes launched by his predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Enthusiasm and patriotic fervour marked the celebrations across the state. Mr Rosaiah led the celebrations by unfurling the national flag at the main official function at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

Madani says will surrender before court soon

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Kollam (Ker), August 15: Facing arrest in the 2008, Bangalore serial blasts case, PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani today said he would surrender before the nearest court “in the coming days”, the date for which would be announced tomorrow.

Addressing a press meet at his camp at Anwarassery near here amid intense speculation and suspense over his arrest, Madani said he “preferred surrendering before the nearest court in the coming days” as he was keen to avoid law and order problems that his arrest could trigger.

Kasab may be produced before HC through video link

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Mumbai, August 15: Maharashtra Government may seek permission of the Bombay High Court to produce convicted terrorist Ajmal Kasab through video link when confirmation of his death sentence in the 26/11 terror attack case comes up for hearing on a day-to-day basis in September.

The court proceedings are expected to last for three months and producing Kasab before the High Court every day amid tight security will be an uphill task for the administration, official sources said in Mumbai on Sunday.

Yuvraj down with dengue, out of tomorrow’s match

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Dambulla (Sri Lanka), August 15: In yet another blow to India’s campaign at the ongoing cricket tri-series, Yuvraj Singh was today ruled out of tomorrow’s ODI against Sri Lanka after being diagnosed with dengue.

“Yuvraj Singh is not available for this game. He has dengue. But he is out of danger,” Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni revealed at the pre-match press conference.

Yuvraj has been battling poor form and fitness for quite some while and the latest setback just adds to his miseries.

Somnath flays WB chief minister’s ‘amra, ora’ remark

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Kolkata, August 15: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s infamous diatribe ‘amra, ora’ (we and others) on opposition parties, saying such remarks would have an adverse impact on the CPI-M.

Chatterjee was referring to the chief minister’s comments during the land acquisition controversy in Nandigram and Singur in 2008 when the latter termed the CPI-M favouring the process as ‘amra’ and those opposing it as ‘ora’.

AP has progressed despite setbacks, says Rosaiah

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Hyderabad, August 15: Andhra Pradesh has moved ahead on the path of progress despite facing numerous challenges like severe floods and separate statehood agitation during the past year, Chief Minister K Rosaiah said today.

“Just 17 days after we celebrated the Independence Day last year, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy died in a chopper crash. Before we could recover from the massive tragedy, we had massive floods. At the same time, there was severe drought in many areas,” he said.

Workload too much on Indian bowlers: Dhoni

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Dambulla, August 15: Injury-hit Indian bowlers are in desperate need of timely breaks, said skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today, insisting that the workload on them is “a bit too much” compared to the batsmen.

India’s bowling has been been badly hit by injuries in the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.

The team is without pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who is nursing a shoulder injury, while Ishant Sharma and Ashish Nehra are recuperating from niggles and are doubtful for tomorrow’s ODI tri-series match against Sri Lanka.

14,000 teenage pregnancies shocks Costa Rica

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San Jose, August 15: Teenage pregnancies have become a major concern in Costa Rica as 14,000 girls under the age of 19 became pregnant and over 500 girls under 14 years gave birth last year.

In 2009, a total of 570 girls under 14 years became mothers, while 658 pregnant girls had given birth in 2008, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund said in a report. On an average, one girl under the age of 14 gives birth daily in hospitals.