faheem

UP Assembly’s Seats Schedule Annouced by EC

by

Lucknow, July 18: The Election Commission of India has announced the bye poll schedule for four constituencies in Uttar Pradesh assembly.

According to sources, bye-elections will be held for Moradabad (West), Malihabad in Lucknow city limit, Bidhuna, and Morna constituencies.

These seats fell vacant following the resignation of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Moradabad (west) Rajiv Channa, the Rashtriya Lok Dal member from Morana Qadir Rana, Gauri Shanker of the Bahujan Samaj Party from Malihabad and Dhani Ram Verma member of the Samjwadi Party from Bidhuna.

Woman shot dead for marrying outside caste

by

Patna, July 18: An 18-year-old woman was shot dead by her uncle in Bihar’s Kaimur district for marrying a man from a different caste, police said today.

Nikki Kumari, 18, was shot dead on Friday in Kudra in Kaimur district by her uncle Bhanu Pratap Singh for marrying a backward caste boy against the wishes of the family.

“It was like an honour killing,” a police officer said.

Kumari, a resident of Dalmianagar in Rohtas district, married Dipak Yadav last month against the wishes of her parents and other relatives.

Petition against Jharkhand police chief

by

Ranchi, July 18: A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed against the state police chief and others in connection with withdrawal of millions of rupees from the secret services (SS) fund.

The PIL was filed by Om Prakash, a resident of Ranchi, in the Jharkhand High Court on Friday.

Children aged 10 view pornography online in Hong Kong, survey finds

by

Hong Kong, July 18: Eighty per cent of Hong Kong schoolchildren have accessed pornography online, according to a survey published Saturday. Students download pornography for the first time at an average age of 11 and the majority do so on computers at home, the survey by the Polytechnic University found.

More than 40 per cent gained access to pornographic material through pop-up adverts. Almost 20 per cent said they looked at pornography for entertainment while 14 per cent claimed they used it to learn about sex.

Anderson has Australia in deep strike

by

London, July 18: There is a long, long way to go but England at last began to take control of their destiny yesterday. It was as unexpected as it was remarkable and the possibility is that Australia are merely lying doggo before they come out blazing in the next three days to secure a record that has endured for three-quarters of a century.

Sharif cleared to run for office again by court

by

Islamabad, July 18: Pakistan’s top court has overturned opposition leader Nawaz Sharif’s conviction on hijacking charges stemming from 1999, clearing the last obstacle to his running for office.

On 12 October that year, the then prime minister removed General Pervez Musharraf from his post as army chief and refused to allow his plane to land. The army revolted and ousted Mr Sharif in a bloodless coup. In its ruling yesterday, the Supreme Court said there was no evidence to support the hijacking conviction.

Markets bounce back on recovery signs in global economy

by

Mumbai, July 18: Stronger global cues and optimism about encouraging corporate earnings, in addition to revival of the monsoon helped the markets recover their post-budget losses with over 9 per cent jump in key indices.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the week up 1,240.70 points or 9.19 per cent at a two-week high of 14,744.92 points from its previous week’s close.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) 50-share Nifty also rebounded by 371.05 points or 9.27 per cent to close the week ended July 18 at 4,374.95 points.

Falsely jailed man gets £60,000

by

London, July 18: A High Court judge has condemned the Home Office’s “unforgivable” treatment of a Dutch national falsely imprisoned for 128 days, supposedly in a case of mistaken identity.

Deputy Judge John Leighton Williams awarded Abdillaahi Muuse, 40, £60,000. This included £25,000 basic damages, £7,500 aggravated damages and a “significant punitive” award of £27,500 exemplary damages, as the judge considered the conduct of the Home Office’s servants or agents “particularly deserving of condemnation”.

Rafsanjani calls on Iran to release protesters

by

Tehran, July 18: The political crisis over Iran’s disputed election has flared up once again as the powerful cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered a sermon criticising the repression of protesters claiming the poll was rigged.

Police fired tear gas as tens of thousands of government opponents chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Ahmadinejad, resign, resign” while they listened to the sermon in the prayer hall of Tehran University.

Ban pays tribute to the Mandela on his 91st b’day

by

Washington, July 18: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has marked the 91st birth anniversary of South African statesman Nelson Mandela and called him “a living embodiment of the highest values of the United Nations.”

“Nelson Mandela has made a lasting imprint on our lives,” Ban said in a statement on the eve of his 91st birthday, yesterday.

“His commitment to a democratic, multiracial South Africa, his steadfast pursuit of justice, his willingness to reconcile with those who persecuted him most – these are just some of the hallmarks of a remarkable man,” he said.

Rahul attacks Maya govt as “not operational”

by

Amethi, July 17: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today launched a full-scale attack on the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh saying it is “not operational” and its priority was to install statues.

Though he described his party’s state unit chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s comments against the Chief Minister as “unfortunate”, he said the Joshi’s anger and sentiments against the government were “genuine”.

Almost all objectives of Chandrayaan-I achieved: ISRO

by

Bangalore, July 17: Chandrayaan-I, which put India into a select group of moon-faring nations, is considered as a unique example of global partnership in research as six of its 10 experiments are of international partners, including NASA.

Though a key component of Chandrayaan-I has malfunctioned raising doubts over the duration of the country’s eight-month-old maiden moon mission, ISRO today said it had achieved “almost all” objectives of the mission.

Train services between Bhubaneswar and Howrah disrupted

by

Bhubaneswar, July 17: Train services between Howrah and Bhubaneswar were disrupted following the dawn to dusk bandh called by the Congress in West Bengal today to protest the attack on three of their leaders allegedly by CPI(M) workers in Burdwan district on July 15.

Some trains were cancelled, diverted, rescheduled, short- terminated and others controlled at important stations in view of the bandh, East Coast Railway (ECOR) sources said here.

Gujarat hooch tragedy: Key accused arrested

by

Ahmedabad, July 17: Vinod Chauhan alias Dagri, the key accused in the hooch tragedy, which has claimed over 130 lives, was today arrested along with one of his aides.

The two were arrested near Vadodara, a senior police official told PTI.

Chauhan allegedly manufactured the spurious liquor in his village in Mahemdabad taluka of Kheda district.

According to police, Chauhan had supplied 1100 litres of spurious liquor spiked with Methanol to the city in the first week of July.

Manmohan stands his ground in RS

by

(PM says, no dilution on terror agenda)
New Delhi, July 17: Insisting that India had not diluted its stand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that any meaningful engagement with Pakistan cannot move forward till Pakistan takes steps to end terrorism emanating from there.

Will launch diplomatic campaign over Kashmir: Mirwaiz

by

Srinagar, July 17: Describing the silence of world community over incidents in J-K as “unfortunate”, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq today said the amalgam will launch a diplomatic campaign to present the “real” picture to the world.

“Hurriyat will step up its activities and launch a diplomatic campaign shortly to make the international community aware about the ground situation in Kashmir and the need for resolution of this long-standing issue,” Mirwaiz said while addressing a Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar.

“Mrs” or “Kumari” Mabel Rebello ?

by

New Delhi, July 17: The Rajya Sabha today had a lighter moment when P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, referred to Congress member Mabel Rebello as “Mrs Rebello” during the course of discussion on the Jharkhand Budget.

The MP reported: “why call me Mrs?”

Kurien then corrected himself saying: “Ok, then Kumari Rebello”.

There was a peal of laughter in the House.
–PTI

Cong withdraws rail blockade

by

Kolkata, July 17: The Congress withdrew its rail blockade two hours before the end of its 12-hour Bangla bandh today.

“We asked our worker to withdraw the rail blockade and requested the railway authorities to resume running of trains from 4:00 pm as thousands of passengers were held up,” WBPCC working President Subrata Mukherjee told reporters here.

“This relaxation is applicable only to railways,” he said.
–PTI

RBI to ensure benign, stable interest rates: RBI Dy Guv

by

Mumbai, July 17: Ahead of the quarterly review of its annual monetary policy, the Reserve Bank today said that it would ensure a benign and stable interest rate regime to safeguard the common man’s interest and ensure adequate liquidity in the system.

“The RBI’s effort is to ensure a benign and stable interest rate regime … it is for ensuring adequate liquidity in the system. We are trying to keep interest rates benign,” Reserve Bank Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty told reporters here.

Bhutto’s killer wanted ‘balkanisation’ of Pak: Zardari

by

Islamabad, July 17: The conspirators, who killed former premier Benazir Bhutto, wanted to “provoke” her supporters with her assassination so as to hasten the process of “balkanisation” of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has said.

Pakistan approached the UN to probe the assassination of Bhutto as it wanted to uncover the conspiracy to “balkanise” the country, Zardari told the three-member UN Commission of Inquiry probing the facts and circumstances of his wife’s assassination here yesterday.

Meaningful dialogue will depend on actions by Pak: PM

by

New Delhi, July 17: Under attack from BJP for the outcome of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the starting point for “any meaningful dialogue” will depend on actions by Islamabad to end cross-border terror and hoped there would be “forward movement” in the coming months.

90-year-old man moves family court for divorce

by

Chennai, July 17: Sixty years after his marriage, a 90-year-old man has moved a family court for divorce, citing alleged ‘desertion and cruelty’ as the reason.

In his civil suit, the man said the marriage worked well for 50 years. Things started going wrong and went to worse from bad after he and his wife started a business, in partnership with their four sons, which ran into losses.

The sons blamed him for the losses, which led to problems between the parents and sons, he said adding my wife, currently 80-years-old, left me to live with the sons.

Cricket Australia lifts ban on NSW bowler Aaron Bird

by

Melbourne, July 17: Cricket Australia today lifted the ban on New South Wales pacer Aaron Bird after biomechanical analysis of his bowling action showed that it complied with CA’s tolerance level.

The 25-year-old pacer was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action on January 30 and was accordingly tested under the Cricket Australia Doubtful Bowling Action Procedures on February 11.

The tests showed that not all of Bird’s deliveries were legal so eventually on February 25 he was suspended for a minimum period of 90 days.

Cricket Australia lifts ban on NSW bowler Aaron Bird

by

Melbourne, July 17: Cricket Australia today lifted the ban on New South Wales pacer Aaron Bird after biomechanical analysis of his bowling action showed that it complied with CA’s tolerance level.

The 25-year-old pacer was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action on January 30 and was accordingly tested under the Cricket Australia Doubtful Bowling Action Procedures on February 11.

The tests showed that not all of Bird’s deliveries were legal so eventually on February 25 he was suspended for a minimum period of 90 days.

Sohail to decide on his future in PCB in next few days

by

Karachi, July 17: Pakistan’s former Test captain Aamer Sohail has said he would decide on his future in the Cricket Board in next few days after strong rumours about his resignation as director game development.

Many television channels carried stories of Sohail having resigned from his position in the Board but the former Test opener denied having taken any such decision.

“No I have not resigned as yet and if I do this I will inform the media. But yes I will take a decision on my future in the board in the next few days,” he admitted.