Rain, hailstorms lash Maharashtra, 12 dead so far

Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms in 28 districts of Maharashtra claimed the lives of at least 12 people and caused widespread damage to crops, affecting nearly five million farmers, officials said Monday.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Election Commission to apprise them of the situation, and said the government will ensure aid to the farmers while taking care not to violate the model code of conduct.

Large areas of Baramati, Nagpur and Pune were hit by rain even Monday.

Ansari to represent India at Fahim’s funeral

Vice President Hamid Ansari will represent India at the funeral of Afghanistan’s first vice president Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim in Kabul Tuesday, official sources said.

They said Ansari will take part in the prayer meeting to be held at the presidential palace and also meet Marshal Fahim’s family members.

Marshal Fahim died Sunday following cardiac arrest at his Kabul home.

BJP says Mahasweta sought ticket for daughter, writer denies it

BJP’s West Bengal unit president Rahul Sinha Monday claimed eminent author Mahasweta Devi had approached him after the Trinamool Congress refused to honour its promise of fielding her foster daughter from Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat. She denied the claim.

“Today(Monday) I got a call on behalf of Mahasweta Devi, saying that (Trinamool supremo) Mamata Banerjee had promised her about nominating her foster daughter from Alipurduar. But like always, Trinamool backtracked from its promise.

Nepal to introduce air crash investigation regulation

Nepal will introduce an air crash investigation regulation in May in a bid to minimise air crashes in future, officials said Monday.

Nepal’s aviation ministry claimed that once introduced, the regulation would help to bring down the number of air crashes by 20 to 25 percent in Nepal, Xinhua reported.

“In line with comments from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that Nepal has made zero progress in avoiding air crashes from 2009 to 2013, the new regulation is being introduced,” Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, a senior official at the aviation ministry told Xinhua.

Marginalised find a voice through performing arts

Myriad complexities of a long distance relationship, personal struggles where one loses sense of self or stifled voices of the marginalised — a three-day festival in the capital that began Monday will narrate various tales of displacement in a modern Indian society.

Focussing on the theme of displacement, the 38th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival aims to create awareness amongst people regarding this neglected issue through the performing arts. It is being held at the Sri Ram Centre and entry is free for the public.

India retain winning Davis Cup squad

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) Monday retained its winning squad for the Davis Cup Group I Asia/Oceania second round tie against South Korea to be held at the Spo1 Tennis Courts in Busan April 4-6.

The Indian team comprising Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri, Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni had whitewashed Chinese Taipei 5-0 in Round 1 in Indore in February.

India will take on South Korea for a place in the World Group Play-offs.

The AITA senior selection committee, led by chairman Anil Dhupar, also retained non-playing captain Anand Amritraj and coach Zeeshan Ali.
(IANS)

India, Africa should form working group on healthcare

India and the African countries should mull forming a working group to explore healthcare cooperation, stakeholders and experts said here Monday.

“Cooperation in sharing local-level experiences in healthcare of both the regions will help,” Naresh Trehan, chairman and managing director of the Medanta group of hospitals, said at a discussion on “Delivering affordable healthcare solutions for Africa”.

The discussion took place at the 10th CII Exim Bank conclave of India-Africa Project Partnership.

‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ is Kiran Reddy’s new party

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s new political party will be Jai Samaikyandhra.

“Jai Samaikyandhra” or “Hail, united Andhra” was the slogan of those who opposed bifurcation of the state.

Addressing a news conference here Monday, he reiterated that his party would fight for the self-respect of Telugu people.

Kiran Reddy, who resigned as chief minister and quit the Congress last month to the protest state’s bifurcation, also announced that he is the president of the new party.

35 UP girls ill after consuming iron pills

Thirty-five girls at an Uttar Pradesh college fell ill Monday after they were administered iron pills following lunch, officials said.

The incident took place at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Shahjahanpur, about 200km from here. The girls, after being administered iron pills, aimed at improving blood content in the body, complained of giddiness and sickness.

They were immediately rushed to the community health centre. When their condition deteriorated, they were referred to the district hospital, where more than two dozen of them are still serious.

Atletico look to book last 8 spot in Champions League

Atletico Madrid are 90 minutes away from booking a place in the last eight of the quarter-finals of the Champions League when they entertain AC Milan in the Vicente Calderon Tuesday night.

Atletico take a 1-0 advantage into the game and after impressing in the San Siro, the Spanish side have to be favourites to qualify, especially given that Milan are currently in crisis in their domestic competition, as highlighted by a 0-1 defeat to Udinese Saturday, reports Xinhua.

Coal scam: SC pulls up CBI for delay in filing charge sheets

The Supreme Court Monday reprimanded the Central Bureau of Investigation over delay in filing the charge sheets in five cases relating to the coal scam in which its investigations are already over.

“This is too much. You can’t do it. Ultimately it has to be finished by you, then why delay,” said a bench of Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph as senior counsel Amrendra Saran appearing for CBI sought four weeks’ time to file the charge sheets.

Delhi Metro shuts down two stations

Delhi Metro commuters faced a tough time Monday when two stations in the heart of the capital were shut down for around three hours due to a religious gathering on a disputed land.

The two stations closed down were Jor Bagh and INA.

“Due to security reasons, Jor Bagh and INA metro stations were closed for passenger service from 3.20 p.m. till 6.23 p.m.,” a Delhi Metro official said.

According to a Delhi Police official, the stations were advised to be shut due to a religious gathering at a disputed plot of land in Jor Bagh area.
(IANS)

EU, UN pay tribute to Indian women

In many rural families in India, there is still a preference for investing in education for boys as compared to girls, especially beyond the primary level, said a report released here Monday.

The report, “Hearts and Minds: Women of India Speak”, an initiative of the UN Women along with a team of authors, intends to share the “lived experiences” of women and girls across five Indian states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan.

CPI-M to go alone in Odisha

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) which had seat-sharing arrangements with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the 2009 polls, Monday said this time it would fight the elections alone in Odisha.

The party will contest two Lok Sabha and 12 assembly seats, CPI-M’s state secretary Janardan Pati told IANS. Elections for the 147-member assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats will be simultaneously held April 10 and April 17.

Aamir Khan, Virat Kohli EC’s ‘national icons’?

The Election Commission is likely to appoint Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and cricketer Virat Kohli as “national icons” who would encourage more and more people to vote in the general elections.

Aamir and Kohli are expected to join the league of four other “national icons” – cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, boxer M.C. Mary Kom, badminton ace Saina Nehwal and former president A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

Gangpur, Kerala in national girls hockey semis

Gangpur-Odisha registered an 8-1 win over Assam to book their semi-final berth in the Hockey India Junior Women’s National Championship (Division B) at the Chamundi Vihar Hockey Ground here Monday.

Gangpur opened their account in the 18th minute when captain Rinki Kujur made no mistake in converting a penalty corner. Within three minutes, Gangpur increased the lead via Janhabi Pradhan who converted another penalty corner. Just before halftime Janhabi took her side to 3-0 through a field goal.

Alagiri decision on new party in two months

DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s eldest son M.K. Alagiri Monday said he would decide on floating a new party in two months’ time.

Speaking to reporters here, Alagiri said he would discuss with his supporters and take a decision.

Jan 24, the DMK temporarily suspended Alagiri for creating confusion in the party ranks and criticising the disciplinary action taken against some colleagues for “anti-party activities”.

Alagiri, 63, son of Karunanidhi, 89, is opposed to his brother M.K. Stalin, 61, being elected to the party’s top post.

Namdhari XI enter national hockey semis

Namdhari XI continued their winning spell by defeating Rajasthan 3-1 in their last Pool A match to book a semi-final berth in the National Hockey Championship (Division B) at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium here Monday.

With their fourth consecutive win, Namdhari XI stayed on top of the points table in Pool A.

National Hockey Championship (Division A) starts Tuesday

The second phase — Division A — of the National Hockey Championship will begin at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium here from Tuesday and will go on till March 23.

The 20 teams in the division will be divided into four pools with five teams each. The inaugural match will be played between Jharkhand and Bhopal with the final scheduled for March 23.

In the previous edition, Air India defeated Punjab 6-2 to lift the trophy.

Manali, resorts near Shimla get more snow

Picturesque resort Manali and the tourist resorts of Kufri and Narkanda Monday near Shimla experienced more snow, triggering a rush of tourists there.

The state capital received mild spells of rain.

Shimla recorded the minimum temperature at 6 degree Celsius, while the maximum stayed at 13.7 degrees, an official of the Met department told IANS.

Nearby tourist spots like Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda experienced more spells of snowfall.

‘Indian private sector can partner Republic of Congo economy’

Indian companies can play a key role in the Republic of Congo’s march towards becoming an emerging economy by year 2025, a senior minister of the central African country said here Monday.

“Indian companies could partner the Republic of Congo government in converting the country’s comparative advantage in different sectors into competitive strengths,” Industry Minister Isidore Mvouba of the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo Brazzaville, said addressing delegates at the 10th CII-EXIM Bank conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership.

Pia Benegal makes ‘realistic costumes’ for ‘Samvidhaan’

Pia Benegal, who has designed costumes for “Samvidhaan”, a 10-part TV series directed by her father Shyam Benegal, says creating “period specific” costumes for it has been a painstaking process.

The TV series talks about the making of the Constitution of India.

Pia designed and created authentic costumes ranging from dhotis, kurtas, waistcoats, sherwanis, double breasted suits, long coats, saris and a variety of headgear for the show.

She says her brief was to design the costumes that were specific to the period when the Constitution was created.

Srinagar, the most high profile seat in Kashmir

With 1.2 million voters spread over 15 assembly constituencies, the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is the most prestigious among the six parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. In the words of incumbent MP Farooq Abdullah, Srinagar is the jugular vein of his party and family and was “non-negotiable”.

Know complexities of human body through exhibition

After its successful showing at a Brussels art museum, “The Body in Indian Art”, an exhibition that brings together 220 artworks with the aim to explore complex understandings of the human body, will open here March 14.

Curated by Naman P. Ahuja, the exhibition will be mounted at the National Museum from March 14 to June 7 that has artworks from 36 museums, archaeological institutes and private collectors. Some of the artworks will be displayed for the first time.

‘O Teri’ is being well-pushed by Salman Khan: Atul Agnihotri

Actor-producer Atul Agnihotri, who has roped in his star brother-in-law Salman Khan for a cameo in his film “O Teri”, says the actor is “adding a lot” to the film.

“‘O Teri’ is being well-pushed by Salman Khan. He is adding a lot to the film and his song, which he shot recently for the film, will be out in the next two days,” Agnihotri said here.

“The song has turned out really well… it is fabulous. I am thankful to Salman Khan,” he added.

Agnihotri is married to Salman’s sister Alvira.