Gali Nagaraja

Lakhvi exempted from appearance in 26/11 case

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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today exempted the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi from appearing in-person after the LeT operations commander cited “serious threats to his life.”

“The trial court (Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad) has exempted Lakhvi from in person appearance in the court on security grounds,” Raja Rizwan Abbasi, Lakhvi’s consel, told PTI after the hearing.

“The court has admitted Lakhvi’s application after the report of Islamabad Inspector General that he (Lakhvi) is facing serious threats to his life,” Abbasi said.

Pakistan, India exchange lists of prisoners

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Pakistan and India on Wednesday exchanged lists of prisoners in accordance to an Agreement on Consular Access signed between the two countries in May 2008, the Pakistan foreign ministry said here.

Both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.

Consistent with the provisions of this agreement, the Pakistani ministry of foreign affairs handed over a list of 403 Indian prisoners (48 civil + 355 fishermen) in Pakistan to the Indian high commission in Islamabad, Xinhua news agency reported.

Sharif visits heat wave-hit Karachi

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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew to the mega port city of Karachi on Wednesday, where a relentless heat wave has killed more than 1,200 people over the past 10 days.

Sharif presided over a meeting of senior officials on the “recent intense heat wave in Karachi and the resulting casualties”, a PM office press release said.

The prime minister was informed that the heat wave hit Karachi on June 19 and more than 65,000 patients were reported in Karachi hospitals during this period, out of which more than 1,200 lost their lives.

Ukraine suspends purchase of Russian natural gas

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Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz suspended all purchases of Russian natural gas from Gazprom starting on Wednesday, as no agreement was reached regarding supply conditions and prices.

The decision was announced after unsuccessful negotiations in Vienna came to an end on Tuesday between representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission on the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine to western Europe, Efe news agency reported.

India received 16 percent more rainfall than normal in June: IMD

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the country has received 16 percent more rainfall than its normal limit in June.

However, since the end of last week, monsoon seems to have slowed down in several parts of the country that has recorded deficient rains.

According to reports, the country is likely to receive eight per cent less rainfall in July while August would witness 10 per cent less rainfall. (ANI)

Delhi Youth Congress to protest against VAT Bill

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The Delhi Youth Congress will today stage a protest against the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill passed by the Delhi Assembly.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has come under harsh criticism after the VAT Bill was passed yesterday.

The newly passed bill will make enabling provisions for levy of VAT in respect of goods enlisted in the Fourth Schedule at flexible rates instead of a flat slab of 20 percent. (ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir government sacks 63 ‘tainted’ civil servants

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In a closely guarded move, the Jammu and Kashmir government overnight served sealed cover letters to 63 officials conveying their forced retirement from civil services.

Special messengers delivered sealed cover letters containing orders of forced retirement to the government officials at their places of posting/residences across the state late on Tuesday evening.

Official sources told IANS that the list of “highly tainted” government officials had been given to Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed by a committee headed by Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday.

Over 1,000 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath Yatra

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Over 1,000 pilgrims of the first batch of this year’s annual Amarnath Yatra left Jammu on Wednesday for the high-altitude cave shrine in Kashmir Valley.

State Health Minister Chowdhary Lal Singh flagged off a convoy of 34 vehicles carrying 1,280 pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here towards the valley.

This year’s yatra to the 14,500 ft. high Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir Anantnag district is spread over 59 days. It will begin on Thursday.

Pilgrims use the south Kashmir Pahalgam and the north Kashmir Baltal routes to reach the cave shrine.

Cuba first country to eradicate mother-to-child HIV transmission: WHO

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Cuba on Tuesday became the first country in the world to eradicate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to newborn, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO announced in a press release that it validated Cuba’s success in eliminating mother-to-child transmission.

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

“IRDAI” Inviting Applications For Assistant

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Name : Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

Website : www.irda.gov.in

Assistant

Candidates should possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Commerce, Business,

Computer Science, HR, Law, Statistics or Inter CA with a minimum of 60% marks and

should possess knowledge of computer operations. In case of candidates belonging to SC/ST

Categories, relaxation in educational standard to the extent of 5% marks is allowed, i.e. they may

possess Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 55% marks.

Associate Member Technical Staff at “Mentor Graphics”

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Name: Mentor Graphics

Website: www.mentor.com

Associate Member Technical Staff

Candidates should be Engineering graduate or post-graduate in any field of engineering with

0-3 years of experience

Experience in Java, Data Structures, Object Oriented Design

Some exposure to writing unit tests

Excellent analytical and problem solving abilities with a knack for developing algorithms

Ability to learn new technologies

Ability to understand the design and contribute to the design process

Clerk grade examinations of GOI – Special guidance program on Deccan Radio today

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Staff Selection Commission of Government of India has invited applications for appointment to various clerical cadres to fill up 6300 posts through a written test. Candidates who have passed Intermediate examination are eligible to take the test. Deccan Radio 107.4 has arranged a guidance program from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. today on its broadcast. Interested candidates can make enquiries through telephone number 040-24740024. Mr. M.A. Hameed, Career Counselor will respond to their questions. Ms. Siddiqa Fatima is the coordinator of the program and Mr.

Jumbo job fair at MJ College of Engineering held yesterday

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On the first day of two day Jumbo Job Fair – 2015, nearly 6500 candidates registered their names. 32 National and Multinational companies took the interviews. Mr. P. V. Reddy, Chairman, Nascom inaugurated the job fair.

Mr. Zafar Javeed, Secretary, Sultan –ul- uloom Education Society welcomed the guests. Dr. Meer Akbar Ali Khan, Treasurer of the society proposed vote of thanks. Amazon, Genpact and other companies offered the jobs to the candidates.

–Siasat News

Hajj pilgrims of former Hyderabad State get free accommodation in Makkah

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There is good news for the Hajj pilgrims belonging to erstwhile Hyderabad State that the issue pertaining to their accommodation in Rubath of Makkah has been resolved amicably. Mr. Ataur Rahman, Chief CEOO of Central Hajj Committee while talking to Siasat Urdu Daily told that this issue has been resolved. Nizam’s Wakf Committee has been entrusted with the power of issued of accommodation permits for 597 Hajj pilgrims belonging to Azizia category. Mr. Ataur Rahman further told that 585 Hajj pilgrims were selected through draw and 12 members would be selected out of the Nizam’s family.

IS activist behead women in Syria for the first time

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Activists of Islamic State beheaded two women in Syria for the first time on charges of sorcery. In the Eastern province of Deir al-Zor these beheadings took place.

Another woman is beheaded in Al-Mayadeen city which is to the south east. She was beheaded along with her husband.

It has been the practice of Islamic State activists to behead people who violate Islamic law as interpreted by them.

Discrimination against Muslim even at the highest level in education

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After Mumbai’s MBA graduate Zeeshan Khan, who recently hogged national headlines after he was denied a job because of being a Muslim, one more Muslim youth alleged that he was deprived of a doctoral seat in a government Medical College just because of his religious identity. The case is more shocking because it happened in government institution as the Constitution of India strictly debarred any discrimination on the basis of religion, caste and creed.

Six die of lightning in Telangana

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Six persons were killed and as many injured due to lightning in Adilabad district today, police said.

Deaths were reported from Kowtala, Dahegav, Kagaznagar mandals of the district.

The serious wounded persons were shifted to Asifabad government hospital, DSP Kagaznagar Gummi Chakravarthi said.

Two died from Tatipalli village of Kowtala mandal and one each from Baba Saagar, Chintamanipalli and one each from Dahegav and Kagaznagar mandals.

–PTI

Rahane will gain valuable experience by leading India: Vengsarkar

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Former India skipper and ex-chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar on Tuesday hailed batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who was named Indian team’s captain for the Zimbabwe series, as a consistent performer who has come of age, and said he will gain valuable experience in his new role.

“It’s good news. He will gain valuable experience leading India. I think he has come of age. It’s an honour for a cricketer to lead the country. He’s been playing very well and scored runs against all opposition,” Vengsarkar said.

Three TTP terrorists sentenced to death in Pakistan

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An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Tuesday awarded the death sentence to three Taliban militants for killing four policemen during an attack on oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked the NATO containers in Attock district, some 95 km northwest of the capital city in 2010.

The court also imposed a penalty of 300,000 rupees on each convict.

The lawyer for the convicts said he would challenge the verdict in the high court.

UP Police gets 1,056 new four-wheel vehicles

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday flagged off 1,056 new four-wheeled vehicles to be used to improve policing under the ‘Dial 100’ scheme.

With these vehicles procured at a cost of Rs.54 crore, there would be two new vehicles each at 1,000 police stations in the state.

Number of displaced in Libya totals 434,000: UNHCR

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The number of people displaced within Libya has almost doubled from an estimated 230,000 last September to more than 434,000 amid escalating fighting this year, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.

“The internally displaced comprise 83,697 families, according to countrywide data collected by UNHCR and its partners,” Xinhua quoted UNHCR as saying in a statement.

The numbers could be higher, warned UNHCR, but with limited access, the agency relies heavily on local partners, who are themselves unable to reach all affected areas because of a volatile situation.

Turkey considers helping Greece on debt crisis

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Turkish politicians are considering helping Greece to pay its debts and take the country out of the worsening financial crises.

“We are ready to help Greece survive its economic crisis with cooperation in tourism, energy, trade,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said here on Tuesday.

The Turkish government has started to debate on how to help Greece over the suggestion by MP Ertugrul Kurkcu of pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Xinhua reported.

Discussed aerospace, defence, civil aviation with Gerwert: PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he discussed initiatives in aerospace, defence and civil aviation during his meet with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airbus Defence and Space, Bernhard Gerwert.

Prime Minister Modi took to twitter to share his experience.

“Discussed initiatives in aerospace, defence and civil aviation during my meet with CEO @AirbusDS, Mr. Bernhard Gerwert,” he posted.

Earlier in the day, Gerwert recalled the Prime Minister’s visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility in Toulouse, in April, and the positive atmosphere and interest.