A S Kashyap
BJP defends Sushma, says Congress ‘bitten by PC bug’
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit back at the Congress for its tirade against Swaraj Kaushal, the husband of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and said that the grand old party has been bitten by a Press Conference (PC) bug.
“The Congress has been bitten by a PC bug. Day in-day out, they are beating around the bush for the same point. Today, they have returned on the same point of quid-pro-quo in Sushma Swaraj’s case,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
Home Ministry asks DG to probe Tihar jail break, fix responsibility
The Home Ministry today directed Director General of Tihar Prison Alok Verma to conduct an inquiry into the recent jail break incident in the high- security prison from where two undertrials managed to escape.
Verma has been asked to carry out a detailed inquiry into the jail break incident and fix responsibility, a Home Ministry official said.
Two undertrials scaled the wall of the ward they were lodged in and then dug a tunnel through the boundary wall to escape from the jail which is considered to be the most high- security prison compound in the country.
Hong Kong protest march seeks unity as lower turnout expected
Thousands are set to gather for a pro-democracy march on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China on Wednesday, but organisers said turnout at the annual event would be down as momentum wanes after nearly a year of rallies.
Bihar polls: Manjhi questions Nitish over implementation of his 34 agendas
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday questioned the Nitish Kumar government as to why it was implementing “modified” versions of his 34 agendas which were cancelled soon after he was removed from the post.
Questioning his removal from the chief minister’s post, Manjhi said, “The decision on 34 agendas which my cabinet had approved was cancelled shamelessly by Nitish Kumar after succeeding me, but on Wednesday he is implementing those issues slowly and gradually.”
ISL: Delhi Dynamos retain Gustavo dos Santos Marmentini
Delhi Dynamos FC have retained Brazilian youngster Gustavo dos Santos Marmentini for the second season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) football.
The fleet-footed star is back to the capital after gaining valuable first team experience with Brazilian powerhouse Atletico Paranaense.
In Gustavo, the club has made a fine addition to its arsenal. The flamboyant winger is no stranger to the league having experienced a very impressive first season with the club. The 21-year-old is at the dawn of his football career and will have plenty to offer to the team.
AAP Govt ‘misguiding’ people with unrealistic VAT figure: Congress
Delhi Congress on Wednesday accused the AAP Government of “misguiding” the people on the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) and said its budget estimates of raising Rs 24,000 crore through it were “unrealistic”.
“VAT collection was Rs 17,925 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 18,289 in 2014-15 showing a growth of around 2%. Now the government has given collection projection of Rs 24,000 crore, which is around 31% growth. This increase from 2% to 31% is an unrealistic one,” said Congress spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee.
Car sales subdued in June; Maruti, Hyundai post marginal growth
Domestic car sales were in a slow lane in June with major manufacturers Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai posting single digit growth as the auto industry continued to face challenging times.
Honda Cars India and Tata Motors posted double digit growth while Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota reported decline in sales during the month.
Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki said its domestic sales increased 1.6% in the month to 1,02,626 units as against 1,00,964 units a year ago.
IndiGo faces litigations involving Rs 1,114 crore
No-frills carrier IndiGo is facing multiple litigations, including those related to income and service tax, involving an amount of at least Rs 1,114 crore.
The profitable airline is gearing up to come out with an initial public offer worth about Rs 2,500 crore, that includes fresh issue of equity and Offer for Sale (OFS).
InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which is operating IndiGo, is facing various litigations involving an amount of at least Rs 1,114 crore.
RIL to invest Rs 2.5 lakh crore in digital space: Mukesh Ambani
Reliance Industries will make an investment of over Rs 250,000 crore in the digital space, including rollout of wireless broadband infrastructure and manufacturing of mobile handsets, its chairman Mukesh Ambani said today.
Speaking at the launch of Digital India Week here, Ambani, whose USD 16 billion Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd is set to launch telephony and broadband services by December, said the firm’s investments in digital space will create employment for over 5 lakh people.
“We at Reliance will invest over Rs 250,000 crore across the Digital India pillars,” he said.
Mobile governance will soon be a reality: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the ‘Digital India’ mission will ensure jobs for 18 lakh people in the country, adding that mobile governance will soon be a reality.
“Digital India will enable investment of Rs 4.5 lakh crore, ensure jobs for 18 lakh people,” Prime Minister Modi said at the launch of the mission.
“E-Governance is going to change into M-Governance or mobile governance. Mobile governance is going to be a reality soon,” he added.
The Prime Minister also assured help to the youngsters in their start-ups.
Hafeez’s bowling future in shambles after visa denial
Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez may not be able to visit Chennai for the test regarding the clearance of his suspect bowling action as the Indian high Commissioner in Colombo has not yet issued him a visa.
The former national T20 skipper is facing a one-year suspension from bowling as he has been reported for the second time for his suspect bowling action in the first Test at Galle in Sri lanka.
Apple updates GarageBand on Mac
Apple has updated GarageBand on the Mac, which provides a range of new tools aimed primarily at electronic dance music creators.
According to the Techcrunch.com, the update offers an expansion of GarageBand’s Drummer tool, adding 10 new EDM and 10 new Hip Hop virtual drummers to the existing crop of acoustic ‘players.’
Google Map adds real-time traffic info for 12 more Indian cities, highways, expressways
Google has added real-time traffic information for a dozen Indian cities, national highways and expressways in the country to its maps.
Google Maps is a desktop and mobile web mapping advertising service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, street maps, 360° panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions (Google Traffic), and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle or public transportation.
Dream of a Digital India where 1.2 billion connected Indians drive innovation: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he dreams of a Digital India where the government is open and governance is transparent, where high speed digital highways unite the nation and where 1.2 billion connected citizens drive innovation.
“I dream of a digital India where high speed digital highways unite the nation I dream of a digital India where high speed digital highways unite the nation. I dream if a digital India where government is open and governance is transparent,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the launch of the Digital India week.
Possibility of Emergency once again, Advani raises national debate
India has not only grown more mature since the Emergency which was declared in 1975, but also its legal system and countervailing centers of power are strong enough to withstand and prevent dictatorial governance, whether from the present dispensation or from other parties, regional or national, whose top-rung leaders are as authoritarian and autocratic, says the periodical India Legal.
Digital India marks beginning of new freedom for people: Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday termed the Digital India programme as the beginning of a new freedom for the people and added that it was a movement which took services to the people.
“From an economic point of view this is beginning of a new freedom for the people. Many changes are taking place in the nation, India wants 8-10 percent growth, wishes to grow faster because we have challenge of eradicating poverty,” Jaitley said at the launch of the Digital India week.
PM Modi understands power of technology: Sunil Mittal
Chairman and group CEO, Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the power of technology and how it can transform the nation.
“This (Digital India) initiative can transform the Nation in the shortest possible timeframe. Who better to lead it than our PM,” Mittal said at the launch of the Digital India week.
“Mr. Modi understands the power of technology and how it can transform the nation, connect the nation in shortest timeframe,” he added.
‘Minions’ filmmakers Chris Renaud wants to cast Chris Pratt as next ‘villain’
‘Jurassic World’ actor Chris Pratt is definitely on demand as animator Chris Renaud wants to cast him as his next villain for his much anticipated movie ‘Minions’.
The American illustrator said that he personally thinks it’s fun to play against type and if a nice guy like Pratt will play the role of villain then it will be great.
Steve Carell has lent his vocal talents to play the Minions evil master Gru in the two ‘Despicable Me’ films, while Sandra Bullock voiced villainness Scarlet Overkill in the spin-off ‘Minions’.
Moving on! Sean Penn gives Minka Kelly a ‘pricy’ birthday bash
Sean Penn seems to be really fast in moving on with his love relationships as he recently threw a pricy birthday party for Hollywood actress Minka Kelly.
As per the sources, ‘The Gunman’ actor treated the 35-year-old American actress and a couple of her friends to a very pricey meal at Thomas Keller’s elite eatery The French Laundry in Napa, California, on her birthday on June 24 where the two got along really well, Us Magazine reported.
Afghans get healthcare facilities in Delhi’s Max hospital
Delhi-based Max Super Specialty hospital treats patients from all over the world, particularly from Afghanistan
Patients from Afghanistan visit the hospital on a regular basis. Mohammad Zahir Wadat had come to Delhi for the treatment of his cardiac problem. He had to come to India for further treatment due to the lack of advanced medical facilities in Afghanistan.
Pankaja Munde rubbishes corruption charges as ‘baseless’
Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde on Wednesday trashed the charges of corruption levelled against her as baseless.
“The allegations that have been leveled against me are baseless. I have already given proof for the same. I was out of the country earlier but as soon as I came back, I talked to everyone about it,” Pankaja told ANI.
Greek PM backs down on handful of bailout creditors’ demands
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is insisting on a handful of changes on the bailout creditors’ conditions offered last weekend that may thwart a deal, according to a letter that he sent last night.
According to Financial Times, the two-page letter elaborates on Tuesday’s surprise request for an extension of Greece’s now-expired bailout and for a new, third rescue worth 29.1 billion pounds.
The letter was sent to the heads of the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.