Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s premier news agency, having a reach as vast as the Indian Railways. It employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.

Delhi sees light rainfall, similar weather Tuesday

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Light rainfall Monday brought relief to Delhi residents suffering from scorching heat as maximum temperature settled down at 38.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average. The Met office has forecast similar weather Tuesday.

“The city has received three mm rainfall,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department.

“The sky will remain cloudy and thundershowers may occur in some part of areas Tuesday,” said the IMD official. The maximum and minimum temperatures Tuesday are likely to hover around 38 and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively.

One militant killed, two nabbed in Meghalaya

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One militant was killed, four wounded and two others, including a woman, were arrested Monday during a gunbattle with security forces in insurgency-ravaged East Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

A police spokesperson said an AK rifle, an SBBL, two pistols, improvised explosive device (IED) materials, ammunition and incriminating documents were seized from the site of the gunfight, while GNLA area commander Ajan Momin alias Jimmy managed to escape.

‘Iraqi crisis threat to region, world’

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Monday told visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry that the crisis in his country was a threat to peace in the region and the world as well.

“What is happening in Iraq poses a threat not only to Iraq but to regional and global peace,” Xinhua quoted Maliki as saying during a meeting with Kerry in Baghdad Green Zone.

Maliki called on the international community, especially countries in the region, to deal with the threat seriously.

‘Modi, Abe to give new dimension to India-Japan relations’

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Bilateral strategic and economic relations between India and Japan are at their best and the governments of both countries are keen to further strengthen them, an advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday.

Addressing an event here through a video call from Tokyo, Tomohiko Taniguchi, special advisor to the cabinet of the Japanese prime minister, said the new Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown keen interest in further strengthening bilateral ties.

‘Holiday’ success to rub off on new TV ad: Producers

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The people behind a new advertising campaign that sees Akshay Kumar flaunt both his humorous and serious side to promote hosiery products Monday said the success of the actor’s current hit “Holiday…” is bound to rub off on it.

The Akshay-starrer crossed the Rs.100-crore mark at the domestic box office in less than three weeks. The A.R. Murugadoss directorial hit the screens June 6.

The TV commercial “Fight Without Fighting” launched recently by Dollar Industries Limited shows Akshay, its brand ambassador, showcasing both physical and mental fitness.

President accepts Chhattisgarh governor’s resignation

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President Pranab Mukherjee Monday accepted the resignation of Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

Mukherjee named Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav to hold additional charge of Chhattisgarh, until regular arrangements for the office of the governor of Chhattisgarh are made, the communique added.

Dutt, a former defence secretary, had put in his papers last week after the Narendra Modi government asked some governors appointed by the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance regime to resign.
(IANS)

Portugal’s chances of qualifying are slim: Bento

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Portugal head coach Paulo Bento has admitted that his team’s chances of qualifying for the second round of the 2014 World Cup now look slim especially after their 2-2 draw with the US.

Portugal equalised in the 94th minute, with a header by Silvestre Varela, to keep alive their hopes. They have to win their next game against Ghana comprehensively and also have to depend on the result of the Germany-US match, reports EFE.

SC notice to CBI on bail plea by NRHM scam accused

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The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to CBI on a bail plea by senior bureaucrat Pradeep Shukla, who is one of the accused in Uttar Pradesh’s 2009 National Rural Health Mission scam involving irregularities in its implementation.

A bench of Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh directed the listing of the matter on July 1 as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought time to go through the medical documents filed by Shukla, who was the state’s principal secretary, health and family welfare when the alleged irregularities surfaced, to seek bail on medical grounds.

Pakistan’s apex court maintains foreign travel ban on Musharraf

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court Monday suspended a lower court’s order allowing former president Pervez Musharraf to go abroad, lawyers said.

The Sindh High Court had earlier cancelled the government’s travel ban on Pervez Musharraf, Xinhua reported.

The federal government challenged in the Supreme Court the verdict delivered by the Sindh High Court on Musharraf’s petition.

Musharraf, who faces high treason trial for abrogating the constitution and some other criminal cases, had pleaded to go abroad for his own treatment and to look after his ailing mother in the United Arab Emirates.

Actress Deepti launches online travel channel

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Actress and TV presenter Deepti Bhatnagar, pioneer of popular TV travel shows like “Yatra” and “Musafir Hoon Yaro”, has launched an online travel channel called travelwithdeeptibhatnagar.

It is, says Deepti, “a platform to connect with avid travellers and guide them in their choices of the perfect destination”.

She believes there will be tremendous growth in the travel business over the next five years and travelling will become even more fun and easier.

Bengal house unites against rail fare hike, Mamata demands rollback

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The West Bengal Assembly Monday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the hike in railway fares as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a roll back of the “unprecedented and anti-people” decision.

Participating in a discussion on the resolution, Banerjee urged the central government to “refrain from anti-people decisions”.

Modi government’s first budget likely on July 10

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The first general budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is likely to be presented July 10, sources said Monday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to present the union budget July 10, three days after the budget session of parliament begins.

According to the sources, the budget session of parliament will begin July 7.

The rail budget will be presented July 8 followed by the release of the Economic Survey on July 9.

Fake certificate racket busted in Odisha

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Odisha Police Monday busted a fake educational certificate racket and arrested the main accused and two students, an official said.

The racket came to light after police launched an investigation on the basis of a complaint lodged by the principal of a local college in Bargarh, about 380 km from here that some students submitted doubtful Class 10 certificates for admission.

‘Collaboration on heath priority for BRICS nations’

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Collaboration in the field of health care is one of the priorities to strengthen the bonds among the BRICS nations, an Indian government official said Monday.

“We have declared health collaboration as a priority to collectively enhance our partnerships among each other and other countries we are engaged with through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms,” said Additional Secretary, Health, C.K. Mishra.

Indian man denies molestation charges in UAE

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An Indian expatriate Monday denied charges that he had molested a woman on a Dubai Metro station escalator, a media report said.

The Indian, identified only as J.K., 26, has been accused of groping a 40-year-old Indian woman when he drew his body close to hers from the back on an escalator in a Dubai Metro station in Jebel Ali area in March, Gulf News reported.

The defendant entered a not guilty plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance Monday.

54 school headmasters suspended in Bihar for misusing funds

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A total of 54 headmasters of government-run primary and middle schools in Bihar have been suspended for misusing funds from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to build their own homes instead of constructing classrooms, officials said.

The suspended headmasters had been provided SSA funds amounting to Rs.5 crore to construct new classrooms and schools in Kaimur district, but they built new homes for themselves.

Colombia keeper thanks coach Pekerman

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Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon praised his team’s current Argentinian coach Jose Pekerman for convincing him not to retire.

“Pekerman convinced me to continue playing. I will never forget that. If it wasn’t for him, I would have retired two years ago. I feel privileged for being here, it was my best birthday ever,” said the goalkeeper, who celebrated his 43rd birthday Saturday, reports EFE.

The oldest player of the FIFA World Cup, Mondragon was Colombia’s first choice keeper in the 1998 World Cup too.

Ivory Coast need just a draw to move into second round

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Ivory Coast are theoretically closer to qualification for the knock-out stage but they cannot allow any slip-up when they face Greece in their last Group C clash of the 2014 World Cup at the Estadio Castelao here Tuesday.

Ivory Coast’s French coach Sabri Lamouchi will again rely on Roma’s Gervinho, who scored twice so far in the World Cup, along with the likes of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, reports EFE.

Yaya and his brother Kolo, however, are in a state of mourning following the death of their brother Ibrahim Toure in England last week.

Sugar price set to rise as government hikes import duty

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The government Monday announced that import duty on sugar will be raised to 40 percent from the current 15 percent and provide support in boosting exports, with a view to help the debt-ridden mills and farmers.

The move is expected to result in a spike in sugar prices in the domestic market.

Talking to reporters after meeting sugar industry officials here, union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Ram Vilas Paswan said the government has decided to facilitate exports with a view to helping farmers.

Big B turns prankster, scares Sarika

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Veteran actress Sarika has gone on record to say that her prime reason to take up TV show “Yudh” was the attraction of working with megastar Amitabh Bachchan – again! But little did she know he would pull a prank on her on the sets.

If a source from the forthcoming show’s set is to believed, the Big B got a “little playful in an attempt to scare Sarika during the shoot”.

Portuguese press calls for ‘miracle’ in World Cup

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Portuguese newspapers that came out Monday spoke about the need for a “miracle” which Portugal needs to reach the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after drawing 2-2 with the United States Sunday.

Sports newspaper Record came out with the headline “Miraculously” depicting Portugal’s last minute goal by Silvestre Varela which gave them a glimpse of hope, reports EFE.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the team need to win against Ghana with a big margin to begin thinking about qualifying for the second round.

‘Stop cyber-crime army’ to be set up in Kerala schools

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The higher education department in Kerala Monday launched a cyber safety awareness campaign as part of which a “Stop Cyber-Crime Army” will be formed in all schools in the state, officials said.

State-owned IT venture Infopark is playing host to the cyber safety awareness campaign.

“Infopark will always be at the forefront to promote anti-cyber crime initiatives. In this digital age, it is a matter of concern that cyber crimes are increasing at an alarming rate in our country,” said Infopark chief executive Hrishikesh Nair.

Congress plans rail blockade in Maharashtra against fare hike

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The Maharashtra unit of the Congress will organise a rail blockade across the state Wednesday to protest the recent hike in railway passenger fares and freight rates, its chief said Monday.

“We demand a roll-back of the fares immediately, failing which we will launch a rail-roko (block trains) agitation across Maharashtra,” state Congress president Manikrao Thakre said here after a meeting with party office-bearers.

The meeting also resolved that if the central government failed to heed the anti-hike sentiments of the masses, the Congress would intensify its agitation.

Kolkata Metro snag triggers panic among commuters

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Hundreds of passengers had a harrowing time Monday inside a Kolkata Metro train trapped in a tunnel between Park Street and Maidan stations after a technical snag.

Thousands of commuters were inconvenienced when the services were disrupted after a Dum Dum-bound train developed a snag. The passengers trapped inside the rake later said many of them suffered from breathlessness and fell sick, but the Metro authorities denied the claim.