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.

Take money from BJP, Congress, vote for AAP: Kejriwal

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Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday appealed to the people to accept money doled out by both the Congress and the BJP but cast their votes in favour of the AAP in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

“BJP aur Congress dono party ke log aayenge… paisa dene… dono party se paisa le lena… par vote jhaadu par dena (BJP and Congress will both come and give you money. Accept the money from both parties but cast your vote on the broom symbol),” Kejriwal said at a political rally in Uttam Nagar constituency of west Delhi.

Australia beat India by four wickets

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Australia registered their second victory in the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series, beating India by four wickets with an over to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Sunday.

India posted 267 for eight — thanks to Rohit Sharma’s 138 — but Australia, buoyed by Aaron Finch (96), Steven Smith (47), and Shane Watson (41), scored 269 for six in 49 overs.

The match saw an intense finish as Mohammad Shami removed Smith in the 40th over and Finch edged an Umesh Yadav delivery to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Australia struggled in the latter part of their innings.

Modi attends Shatrughan Sinha’s son’s wedding

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha’s son Kussh’s wedding to Taruna Agarwal here Sunday.

The groom’s sister and actress Sonakshi Sinha, who had met Modi along with her parents Shatrughan and Poonam earlier this month, tweeted a photograph and captioned it: “Thank you @narendramodi sir for keeping your promise to me! You made our day truly even more special.”

Sporting his trademark bandhgala jacket with ethnic wear, Modi is seen standing with the groom’s mother, Sonakshi and Shatrughan along with the newlyweds.

ODI tri-series Scoreboard: India vs Australia

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Following is the scoreboard of the match between India and Australia in the ODI tri-series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Sunday.

India innings:
Rohit Sharma c Maxwell b Starc 138
Shikhar Dhawan c Finch b Starc 2
Ajinkya Rahane c Haddin b Sandhu 12
Virat Kohli c Bailey b Faulkner 9
Suresh Raina c Maxwell b Starc 51
Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Starc 19
Axar Patel lbw b Starc 0
Ravichandran Ashwin not out 14
Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Starc 0
Mohammed Shami not out 2
Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 15, nb 1) 20
Total (for eight wickets in 50 overs) 267

No polio case in Himachal since 2009

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No new case of polio has been reported in Himachal Pradesh since 2009, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here Sunday.

The last polio case was detected in Nalagarh block in Solan district in 2009 and the state has remained polio-free since then, he said while launching the first phase of the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme here.

The chief minister said 683,356 children less than five years of age would be administered polio drops for which 5,868 booths have been set up.

Vaccination teams would visit 13,95,185 households under this programme, he added.

(IANS)

Modi’s Muslim aide to link Urdu varsity with industry

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close Muslim aide Zafar Sareshwala, who took over as the chancellor of the Moulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), is keen to link the institution to industry.

The priorities of the 52-year-old Gujarati industrialist include linking the Hyderabad-based MANUU with the corporate sector, ensuring regular campus recruitment, more research work and tie-ups with universities around the world.

DRDO overhaul on the cards

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An overhaul of India’s premier defence R&D organisation is on the cards with the defence ministry aiming to give greater powers to cluster heads and creating a younger leadership, those in the know of developments say.

Days after the Defence research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander was unceremoniously asked to go, an official said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is reviewing all of the behemoth’s facilities.

21 IS militants killed in clashes in Iraq

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Iraqi security forces killed 21 Islamic State (IS) militants in security operations in Salahuddin and Anbar provinces, defence ministry said Saturday.

The security forces launched a number of military operations in the areas to the north and south of Salahuddin province’s capital of Tikrit, killing 15 IS militants and destroying vehicles carrying machine guns belonged to the militants, Xinhua reported citing the statement.

Cockpit fight: AI pilot hits engineer over inspection

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A fight between a pilot and a flight engineer in the cockpit of an Air India plane at Chennai airport on Saturday landed the engineer in hospital and left 118 passengers in disarray. The flight, which was to depart at 9.45am, took off two hours late because of the scuffle. The flight captain, Maniklal Sanghi, has been grounded till investigations are over.

Haryana asks colonizers to get sale deeds registered

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The Haryana government Saturday said that it has directed builders and colonizers to get the sale deeds or conveyance deeds registered within 20 days failing to which penal action against them will be initiated in accordance with the provisions of law.

The order has been conveyed to 575 builders and colonizer licencees, who have been asked to get the sale deeds registered in favour of the respective plot, flat, shop and space holders from whom registration charges stand collected, said a spokesperson of the town and country planning department.

Rally in Russia condemns Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) caricature

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Over 20,000 people staged a rally in the Russian republic of Ingushetia, Saturday, to protest against the unfavourable portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the media.

The participants at the gathering, called “Islam against Terrorism and Extremism”, in Ingushetia’s capital Magas, said Islam was a religion of peace and kindness and claimed to be outraged by the actions of those who continued to ignore the feelings of the Muslims and publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Male models need more confidence: Jourdan Dunn

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Model Jourdan Dunn believes male models need to show “more confidence” while doing the catwalk than their female counterparts.

The 24-year-old, who was recently unveiled as the face of luxury brand Burberry alongside Naomi supermodel Campbell, insists working as woman in the fashion industry can be difficult, but believes her male counterparts have a tougher job strutting themselves on the runway because they can’t wear heels.

‘Khamoshiyan’ crew to spread cheer in ‘Bigg Boss’ house

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“Bigg Boss Halla Bol” series, an extension of “Bigg Boss 8”, will Sunday witness the presence of the “Khamoshiyan” team – filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt along with actors Ali Fazal and Gurmeet Choudhary.

The trio will promote their forthcoming film on the show, and they will be seen entertaining the viewers along with the show’s host Farah Khan.

Bhatt will be seen interacting with the contestants inside the house. He will go in as a director who will audition all the contestants, said a source.

One killed in Florida mall shooting

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A person was killed and two others injured when a gunman opened fire at a mall in the US state of Florida Saturday, media reported.

The shooting took place at 9.40 a.m. at the Melbourne Square mall’s food court and the gunman shot himself after firing five or six shots, Xinhua reported citing local reports.

Melbourne police tweeted that “shooter is contained” and that police officers “have control of situation”.

Police also said that the mall was temporarily closed.

(IANS)

Sonia achieved double win in 2004, says ‘biography’ author

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi achieved a “double win” in 2004 by choosing Manmohan Singh to be prime minister as she silenced questions about her Italian origins while having more power as party chief, says Javier Moro, author of a “dramatised biography” of her.

Spanish author Moro said that not becoming prime minister was a clever move on part of Gandhi as her Italian origins were considered “a weak point” politically.

“It was a clever move on her part. It was double win. As (Congress) president, she had more power. She was the queen,” he said at a press conference here.

ITF junior qualifiers: top seed in final round

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The top four seeds in the qualifying draw of the Boys Singles entered the final round of the ITF Juniors at the Dakshin Kalikata Sansad Sports Complex here Saturday.

Top seed Cheng Chieh Wang from Taipei was stretched to the third set by India’s Kabir Manrai but in the end the foreigner won the battle 2-6,6-3,6-4.

Indians Kunj Kotak, Sultan Atwal Singh and Tejas Shevde also moved to the final qualifying single round, but without dropping a set.

Saturday’s Important Results (IND, if not specified);

Boys Singles Under 18 (Qualifying Round 2)

Parrikar visits BEL in Bengaluru

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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday visited the state-run Bharat Electronic Ltd (BEL) here and laid the foundation stone for its training academy.

“The academy will organise training programmes to build technical and behavioral competencies in the Navratna defence undertaking,” the company said in a statement.

Parrikar also visited the manufacturing, integration and test facilities for Akash missile system, coastal surveillance system, electronic warfare and avionics, super components and mass manufacturing unit in the BEL complex.

I-League: Salgaocar, Pune finish 1-1

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Salgaocar Football Club scored a late equaliser to settle for a 1-1 draw with Pune FC in their opening match of the Hero I-League at Nehru Stadium in Fatorda here Saturday.

Pune FC took the lead in the first session through the boots of Anthony D’Souza while Salgaocar saved themselves the blushes with substitute Gilbert Oliveira restoring parity in the 80th minute.

2015 to be water revolution year: Uma Bharti

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Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati Saturday said that 2015-16 will be observed as “Jal Kranti Varsh (Water revolution year)”.

In her concluding address at the Third India Water Week here, she said the programmes concerning water conservation will be observed all districts of the country as part of this programme.

Making a strong pitch for the revival of Yamuna, she said that more water start flowing in the river in the coming years due to efforts of the central goverment.

Iran urges Saudi Arabia help to stop oil price slump

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Iran has urged Saudi Arabia to help stop the continuous slump in oil prices in order to protect the economies of the region’s oil producing countries, media reports said.

“We have told Saudi Arabian officials through diplomatic channels that they should prevent the enemies of the region from harming the growing economies of the regional countries,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, reported Xinhua citing the Tasnim News agency.

Hamas hails ICC enquiry into Israeli actions

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The Hamas Saturday welcomed a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to start looking into possible Israeli war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed statement that the probe “is the right step in the right direction”, reported Xinhua.

“Hamas calls on the International Criminal Court to finalise all the procedures, in order to bring the leaders of the (Israeli) occupation to court,” he said.

Advani lists seventh national billiards title

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India’s ace cueist and 12-time world champion, Pankaj Advani of PSPB, lifted his seventh national billiards title by convincingly shutting out his colleague Dhruv Sitwala at the BRC Gloster National Billiards Championship here Saturday.

Sitwala, who has reached two world championships finals and two national championship finals, Acould do little as Advani reeled out five straight frames victories “150(55, 80)-28, 150(150*)-00, 153(153*)-00, 150(82, 61*)-81(81), 153(50, 103*)-00.

AAP fighting for survival in Delhi: BJP chief

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BJP president Amit Shah Saturday said the Aam Aadmi Party was “fighting for political survival” in Delhi.

Speaking to party workers here, Shah said the AAP would be rejected by the voters of Delhi in the Feb 7 assembly polls as its position was “very weak”.

“What can the AAP teach us which is fighting for its own political survival in these elections. Its position is very weak in many constituencies,” Shah said.

CBI arrests Sudipta Sen’s adviser

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The CBI Saturday arrested Shivnarayan Das, said to be an advisor of Saradha scam purported kingpin Sudipta Sen, in connection with the multi-billion chit fund scandal. A fully loaded revolver was also seized from him.

“Shivnarayan Das has been arrested today by the CBI for his involvement in the case against Saradha Realty India Ltd and others. A notice was earlier served at his residence but he did not respond and was neither available nor did he join investigation till date,” said a Central Bureau of Information spokesperson.

EC issues notice to Kejriwal

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The Election Commission Saturday issued a notice to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for violating the model code of conduct by making “unverified” allegations against Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.

The notice said that the commission has received a complaint from Upadhyay alleging that Kejriwal leveled “false, baseless and unverified allegations against him and Asish Sood, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit”.