Ali Khan

CAG slams construction of 4 large bungalows in GTB hospital

by

The “unfruitful” expenditure in construction of four large bungalows at Guru Teg Bahadur hospital campus “without any actual need” has earned the ire of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

“Four newly-constructed residential bungalows in Guru Teg Bahadur hospital were not occupied for more than five years rendering Rs 1.26 crore incurred on construction of these bungalows, unfruitful,” said CAG in its report.

As per the report, the construction of bungalows was completed in September 2008 at a total cost of Rs 1.26 crore.

KOEL gets HC nod for demerger of travel biz into separate unit

by

Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL), India’s largest engine and genset manufacturer, today said it has received High Court order approving its demerger of travel services business into a separate unit.

As per the demerger scheme, Kirloskar Group transfered travel services business to a new company, Pneumatic Holdings Ltd, which would be listed separately, while merging two listed group firms.

Delhi Assembly passes budget for 2015-16

by

The Delhi Assembly today passed the Rs 41,129 crore budget for 2015-16 — the first by the AAP government — with a major focus on education, health and transport sectors.

The budget was presented on June 25 by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and it was passed by voice vote by the House after lengthy discussion.

The budget was seen to be aimed at AAP’s core constituencies of middle class and poor as the government did not announce any hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) but raised the luxury and entertainment tax which will pinch those going to to gym, club, spa and restaurants.

Uma Bharati seeks reassessment of expenses on renovation of

by

Union Minister Uma Bharati has sought reassessment of the expenses incurred on renovation of her residence from a third party as she feels the assessment made is not correct.

“I have sought a reassessment on the expenses from a third party,” she said when asked about an RTI query on the expenses incurred for renovation of her residence and office.

An RTI activist had sought details of the expenditure incurred on renovation of Bharati’s residence and office after she assumed office.

The Minister is reportedly not satisfied with the assessments made.

Gehlot seeks expedition in implementation of scavenging Act

by

Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot has sought expedition in the implementation of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

The Minister said this while chairing the third meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee to review the implementation of the Act yesterday, a statement here said today.

The central Act was enacted by Parliament in September, 2013.

Valuables worth over Rs 2 crore stolen

by

Some unidentified persons today decamped valuables including cash and jewelry worth over Rs 2.5 crore from the flat of a businessman in Greater Kailash area of South East Delhi, police said.

The thieves struck at the flat of one Sunil Kumar Agarwal when he had gone to his office. His wife Kumkum, who is daughter of ex-MP Kanwar Lal Bharti, was visiting her ailing mother in New Friends Colony, they said.

The thieves entered the flat by breaking the lock of the flat’s main door and stole the valuables including cash and jewelry, said a senior police officer.

Nation wide trade unions strike on Sep 2

by

As many as 11 trade unions, including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, will observe nationwide strike on September 2 against various issues, including “anti-labour” reforms, land acquisition bill and privatisation of public sector organisations.

HC asks govt to submit enquiry commission’s report in assembly

by

Madras High Court today questioned the state government as to why the one-man commission’s report on the building collapse at suburban Moulivakkam here has not yet been tabled in the assembly.

Sixty-one persons lost their lives after the 11-storeyed building collapsed on June 28 last year. The state government had set up an inquiry commission to probe the circumstances leading to the collapse.

DMK leader M K Stalin and social activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy moved the High Court seeking CBI inquiry on the incident.

300 booked for clash between two communities in Ghaziabad

by

Police today booked 300 persons, including 23 identified accused, in connection with the clash between members of two communities over the use of loudspeakers during a religious function in Farid Nagar area here, police said.

FIR was registered against 300 people which also names 23 identified accused. Efforts are on to nab the identified accused allegedly involved in the incident, police said.

Nene Leakes quits ‘Real Housewives’

by

TV personality NeNe Leakes has confirmed she has quit “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” after being on the show for seven years.

The 47-year-old actress, who is one of the original cast members of the reality tv show, said she won’t be appearing in season eight, as her contract is up and it’s the right time to move on to other things, reported People Magazine.

“This was definitely a hard decision for me. Me and my husband (Gregg Leakes) have been going back and forth on it for weeks now.

Jada Pinkett Smith ‘more playful’ with husband Will

by

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith says starring in the upcoming comedy-drama film “Magic Mike XXL” has taught her to be more “playful” with her husband Will Smith.

The 43-year-old star said being on the set of the stripper movie taught her to match Smith’s funny personality in their marriage, reported Femalefirst.

“It really taught me how to be more playful with my husband… He’s a silly man all day long. He’s the guy who hides behind the door and jumps out. He’s that guy. All day.

Paris Hilton wants to sue people behind plane crash prank?

by

Socialite Paris Hilton reportedly plans to sue the pranksters for emotional distress caused by the plane crash prank.

Hilton, 34, was “totally freaked out” over the prank and the “Stars Are Blind” singer apparently had no idea that it was a prank, reported Ace Showbiz.

The hotel heiress reportedly has called her attorney to find out the people responsible for the prank and those who put her on the plane.

However, she doesn’t believe that anyone in her entourage was involved in the stunt.

Man accused in Boko Haram abduction of Chibok girls arrested

by

Nigerian troops have arrested a businessman accused of “participating actively” in Boko Haram’s mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok last year, Nigeria’s Defence Ministry has said.

Spokesman Maj Gen Chris Olukolade said yesterday that Babuji Ya’ari headed a “terrorists’ intelligence cell” for the Islamic extremists while masquerading as a member of the self-defence Youth Vigilante Group. That confirms suspicions that the vigilantes have been infiltrated by Boko Haram.

Cuba becomes first nation to eliminate mother-to-child HIV

by

Cuba has become the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, the World Health Organisation has said.

“Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible,” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said yesterday.

“This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation.”

Spanish reporter says he fled Egypt to avoid arrest

by

A Spanish reporter who wrote a book on the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood has said that he had fled Egypt after he was warned that local authorities were planning to arrest him.

Ricard Gonzalez, 36, had been working in Egypt since 2011 as a correspondent for Spanish daily El Pais and had also contributed articles for Argentine newspaper La Nacion. He fled Egypt two weeks ago.

“Spanish authorities told me there was an imminent risk of being arrested and indicted, and it could be serious. They advised me to leave the country,” Gonzalez told AFP yesterday in a telephone interviews.

Greece defaults on IMF debt

by

Greece has become the first developed country to default on its debt to the International Monetary Fund, after missing a 1.5 billion euro (USD 1.7 billion) payment.

“I confirm that the SDR 1.2 billion repayment due by Greece to the IMF today has not been received,” said Fund spokesman Gerry Rice yesterday.

“We have informed our executive board that Greece is now in arrears and can only receive IMF financing once the arrears are cleared.”

US senator on visit to Venezuela amid diplomatic detente

by

The Republican chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is making a surprise visit to Venezuela amid a US effort to reduce tensions with the South American nation.

Sen Bob Corker of Tennessee was meeting yesterday with members of Venezuela’s opposition, said Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader. She added on Twitter that she expected to meet with Corker in the coming hours.

US names new Guantanamo special envoy

by

Secretary of State John Kerry today appointed a new special envoy to lead the Obama administration’s efforts to close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Lee Wolosky, a lawyer who was the White House’s director of transnational threats under both presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, will serve as the State Department’s Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure.

Lawsuit challenges US governor’s religious objections order

by

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s executive order that aims to give special protections to people who oppose same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and should be thrown out, gay rights advocates argue in a lawsuit filed today.

The lawsuit comes days after the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that effectively struck down bans on same-sex marriage in Louisiana and several other states.

Louisiana began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples yesterday. The state had been the last to do so.

At least 20,000 pro-bailout supporters rally in Athens

by

Thousands of people rallied in Athens today in support of a bailout deal with international creditors which has been rejected by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, leaving Greece on the brink of default.

At least 20,000 people, many waving European and Greek flags and blowing whistles, gathered in front of parliament in Syntagma square five days before a referendum on whether or not to accept the bailout.

Keltron founding chairman K P P Nambiar passes away

by

K P P Nambiar, founding Chairman of Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron), a public sector electronics company in Kerala, died here tonight due to age-related illnesses, family sources said.

Nambiar (86) is survived by wife Umadevi Nambiar and a son and a daughter.

“My father, Shri KPP Nambiar passed away in his residence at 7.50 pm due to age-related illnesses,” Kiran Nambiar, son of K P P Nambiar, told PTI here.

Nambiar was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2006. He was also was the president of the World Malayalee Council.

Yemen fighting allows 1,200 prisoners to flee

by

A Yemeni security official says some 1,200 inmates fled a prison in a southwestern city after guards deserted their posts amid fierce fighting between Shiite rebels and their opponents.

The official says today’s jailbreak in Taiz came after the city’s main prison was caught in crossfire between southerners fighting for autonomy or outright independence and the rebels, known as Houthis, who are backed by army units loyal to a former president.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Climate, economic ties top agenda as Chinese PM visits France

by

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang made a long-awaited pledge to curb carbon emissions during a trip to France today where he also signed trade deals worth billions of euros.

“China’s carbon dioxide emission will peak by around 2030 and China will work hard to achieve the target at an even earlier date,” Li’s office said in a statement as he lunched with President Francois Hollande on the first of a three-day visit.

France was chosen for the announcement because it is hosting UN climate talks at the end of the year tasked with producing a global pact on curbing climate change.

3,000 Clinton emails to be released late Tuesday

by

Some 3,000 pages of Hillary Clinton’s emails from her time as top US diplomat will be made public online today by the State Department, following the orders of a federal judge.

Clinton’s electronic correspondence has been the focus of controversy since her admission in March that she had used a private account for all her email correspondence while secretary of state between 2009 and 2013.

Republican rivals contend that Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, used the private account in order to keep it out of the public record.

Eurozone refuses Greek bailout extension, more talks tomorrow

by

Eurozone finance ministers declined to extend Greece’s bailout today hours before its expiry and a possible IMF default but talks will continue tomorrow after Athens asked for a new aid plan, officials said.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras requested a two-year rescue deal with the European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before the European part of its EU-IMF bailout expires at 2200 GMT.