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Lalu comes out of jail after 76 days

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RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad walked out of prison on bail Monday, after being jailed 76 days ago in the fodder scandal.

The Supreme Court granted him bail last week.

Lalu Prasad was convicted Sep 30 and sentenced to five years imprisonment Oct 3 last year.

Along with another former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, Janata Dal-United MP Jagdish Sharma and others, Lalu Prasad was convicted of illegally withdrawing Rs.37.70 crore from the Chaibasa treasury in 1994-95 when he was the Bihar chief minister.

Germany defends Hockey Junior World Cup title, final positions of the team

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Germany scripted history Sunday at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium by successfully defending and winning their sixth Hockey Junior World Cup by drubbing France 5-2 in the final here.

Underdogs France have been the story of the tournament but the defending champions had the last laugh by imposing their dominance in junior flagship event.

France not just managed but had comprehensive victories against South American champions Argentina, European champions Belgium and Asian champions Malaysia to enter their first final in the competition.

CM, KPCC chief in Delhi to discuss LS poll preparations

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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara have left for New Delhi where they will attend a meeting with AICC leaders on Monday to discuss preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and also start the process of shortlisting party candidates.

Nobody can replace Sunil as Gutthi: Upasana Singh

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Actress Upasana Singh, who plays the popular character of “bua” (paternal aunt) on “Comedy Nights With Kapil”, says nobody can replace Sunil Grover as Gutthi on the show.

The show is aired on Colors TV.

“Nobody else other than Sunil (Grover) can play Gutthi. Only he is Gutthi,” Upasana Singh told reporters here at the red carpet of Colors Golden Petal Awards.

Reportedly, the actor left the show recently as his contract was getting over and the show’s producer and host Kapil Sharma was not ready to give him a hike he had asked for.

BJD leader’s murder triggers protests in Odisha town

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The murder of a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader in Odisha’s Titilagarh town has triggered protests with people Monday blocking roads and staging demonstrations in the area, police said.

Hundreds of residents, including the leader’s supporters, blocked roads for hours, staged demonstrations in front of the local police station, and started a day’s shutdown in the town, a senior police official told IANS.

Vehicles went off the roads, shops downed shutters, educational institution and business establishments in the town also remained closed, he said.

Indian national found hanging in UAE

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An Indian national in the United Arab Emirates has committed suicide by hanging himself with a plastic cable in an under-construction building in Sharjah, media reports said.

The body of the man, who is identified only by the initials of his name KR, 43, from India, was found hanging from the ceiling in the Al-Qraan area at 6 a.m. Sunday, the Gulf News reported.

Workers at the construction site detected the body first.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and the body was sent to the forensic laboratory for an autopsy.(IANS)

NDA regime grant of additional spectrum: Case adjourned

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A Delhi court Monday posted for Feb 20 next year the hearing of a case of grant of additional spectrum to private operators through a union government decision of January 2002, during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

The hearing in the case was stayed April 26 this year by the Supreme Court which said that proceedings in the trial court would remain “postponed” until further orders.

Sensex trades flat during early session on monday

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A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 1.10 points or 0.01 percent down in the early morning trade Monday.

Selling pressure was observed in oil and gas and auto sectors while good buying was observed in healthcare sector.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,714.26 points, was trading at 20,714.48 points in the early session, down 1.10 points or 0.01 percent from previous day’s close at 20,715.58 points.

Over 100 red sander smugglers arrested in Andhra

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Andhra Pradesh Police Monday arrested more than 100 red sander smugglers here allegedly involved in the killing of two forest officials in Chittoor district’s Seshachalam forests Sunday.

The suspects were arrested from railway stations in Chittoor and Kadapa districts while they were trying to flee to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, an officer said.

The arrested people would be questioned about their role in Sunday’s attack which killed two officials and injured three others.

Seemandhra lawmakers tear, burn copies of Telangana bill

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Tension prevailed in the Andhra assembly premises Monday when legislators from coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions tore off and set fire to copies of the bill for formation of a separate Telangana state.

Soon after Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013, was tabled in the house, legislators from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions) opposing the state’s bifurcation came out of the house and tore the copies of the bill at the media point.

Delhi witnessed the first fog of the winter season

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Delhi witnessed the first fog of the winter season on Monday which delayed the schedule of over 25 domestic and international flights at the IGI airport here.

The flights were delayed as the runway visibility dropped to less than 50 metres, bringing landing and take-off to a halt for over an hour, an airport official said.

This is the first fog of the winter season, which started to descend at the airport early in the morning, but as the day progressed it become dense.

FIVE WAYS TO STOP BEING JUDGMENTAL

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If that feeling of, “I’m better than thou,” creeps up on you while comparing yourself to someone else, consider the following:

1. Consider the saying, “Some saints have a past and many sinners have a future.”

Being a ‘saint’ isn’t guaranteed for any one person for a lifetime. But the path to God’s forgiveness is always open and especially tailored just for the one who makes a mistake and regrets it and seeks to change, even if it’s over and over and over.

2. Think about our sins and shortcomings.

Uncertainty over fresh parole for Sanjay Dutt

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Uncertainty looms over the fresh parole granted to imprisoned Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt as the state government Saturday sought a report on the issue, officials said here.

The parole for Dutt, apparently approved by the Pune divisional commissioner, has evoked strong reactions from various quarters.

State Home Minister R.R. Patil has sought a report from the concerned departments to ascertain whether Dutt was eligible for a month’s parole on grounds that his wife Maanyata was ill.

Indian dailies highlight public grief over Mandela”s death

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Indian dailies on Saturday highlighted the sense of public grief over the death of former South African president Nelson Mandela. Mandela, who emerged from 27 years of imprisonment to help guide South Africa to democracy, died on Thursday from a lung related illness.

Young scientists must take India to technological supremacy: President

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India can only advance through technological advancements and the onus is on its young scientists to take the country to supremacy in this sector, President Pranab Mukherjee said Friday.

“India is at the threshold of being a global power. We are poised to play a bigger role in the world. It is our status as a technology power that will define this new role,” Mukherjee said at the Fifth Indian Youth Science Congress held here.

Incorporate natural education in teaching: President

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Describing Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva Bharati University as an “unique institution”, President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday stressed on the need for incorporating “natural education” in modern teaching.

“The growing disconnect of man with nature continues to this day. Modern education in India must incorporate the beautiful ideas embedded in Tagore’s ‘natural education’. It must be, as Tagore had envisaged, an education for full development in life,” said Mukherjee addressing 48th convocation of the university in Birbhum district.

Khadims India founder dead

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Footwear major Khadims India founder and chairman emeritus Satya Prasad Roy Burman died at a private hospital here Saturday after prolonged illness. He was 83.

Roy Burman is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, the family said in a statement.

Born March 1, 1930, Roy Burman purchased a footwear outletKM Khadim & Company – an ordinary footwear shop in Chitpur here in 1965, and gradually transformed it into a big brand which now comprises over 600 exclusive retail outlets across the country. It has presence in 21 states.(IANS)

Obama, Bush, Clinton to pay last respects to Mandela

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US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will travel to South Africa next week to pay their last respects to anti-apartheid icon and South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela.

They will be joined by former US president George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush and former president Bill Clinton and his wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

According to the White House, the Americans will “pay their respects to the memory of Nelson Mandela and participate in memorial events” honouring the passing of the anti-apartheid leader.

US unemployment rate drops to 5-year low

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The US unemployment rate in November declined to the lowest level in five years with job creation growing at a steady pace.

But experts warned that the trend of the underlying labour market remained weak, reports Xinhua.

The unemployment rate last month dropped by 0.3 percentage point from October to 7 percent, the lowest level since November 2008, the labour department reported Friday.

The number of unemployed in the US declined to 10.9 million in November from 11.3 million in October, the report showed.

If an automobile must have an insurance policy, why not an individual?

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In India, an automobile has to have an insurance policy but not an individual. Perhaps it is time each individual should have a term life insurance policy based on his income levels, says a top official of a private life insurance company.

“When an automobile is mandated to have an insurance policy why not an individual mandated to have a term insurance cover. The premium outgo will be very small,” Anup Rau, chief executive officer at Reliance Life Insurance Company, told IANS.

Ashes: Johnson at it again as England crumble

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Despite bowling out England for 172 with pacer Mitchell Johnson picking up seven for 40 runs, Australia decided not to enforce the follow-on and bat a second time, ending day three of the second Ashes Test with a 530-run lead here Saturday

The English batting crumbled for the second Test running, handing Australia a mammoth 398-run first innings lead.

Instead of enforcing a follow-on, Australia came out to bat and ended the day 132 for three, largely thanks to David Warner’s quick-fire 83 not out of 117 balls.

Nanoscience needs targeted funding: C.N.R Rao

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The government should ensure targeted funding to promote nanoscience and nanotechnology in solving pressing societal problems and improve the quality of life, a top scientist said Thursday.

“Nano mission needs targeted funding to set up infrastructure and build capacity for research in nanoscience and developing nanotechnology to solve pressing problems and improve quality of life,” C.N.R. Rao, who has been named for the Bharat Ratna, said at a summit here.

Bride, three others suffer acid attack in Punjab

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A bride along with three other women suffered injuries in an acid attack Saturday by a youth in Ludhiana’s Saraba Nagar locality, police said.

The attack took place when the victim was getting ready for her wedding. The assailant entered the salon on the pretext of delivering some papers and fled after throwing acid on the bride, police said.

The victims were rushed to a hospital. No arrest has been made so far, an officer said.

Ludhiana is 110 km from Chandigarh.(IANS)

Tenant cannot dictate usage of space to house owner: Court

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The tenant of a 65-year-old handicapped widow in Nizamuddin, New Delhi, was served eviction orders by a Delhi court Saturday. The tenant was also told that he could not suggest ways in which his landlady might use her space.

Additional Civil Judge M.P. Singh’s order came as a relief to Femida Begum who had sought the court’s intervention for the eviction of her tenant Mohammad Ahmed.

Begum is 80 percent handicapped. She owns a building with two floors and lives on the first floor with her two daughters and son Firoz.

I’m not here to make friends: Kareena Kapoor

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Actor Ranbir Kapoor says his cousin Kareena Kapoor “hates all” her colleagues and the actress agrees and says she’s not in the Hindi film industry to make friends.

Kareena and Ranbir made a joint appearance on Karan Johar’s celebrity talk show “Koffee With Karan”, where they got talking about the former’s relationship with her female colleagues.