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.

Parrikar wants younger replacement for DRDO chief

by

A younger person should replace the DRDO chief, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Tuesday, adding that it was on his recommendation that DRDO chief Avinash Chander’s term was ended.

A day after termination of Chander’s services was approved, the minister also said there was no “controversy” in the removal.

“I recommended that a person on contract should not be occupying such a senior position. This senior position should be filled by other eligible senior persons. There is no controversy here,” Parrikar said Tuesday.

Goa LGBT row: Opposition demands minister’s removal

by

The opposition Wednesday stepped up pressure on the BJP-led Goa government, demanding the resignation and an apology from Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar for his plans to set up camps to “cure” LGBT youth.

Demanding his removal from the cabinet, Nationalist Congress Party state vice-president Trajano D’Mello Wednesday said Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar should sack Tawadkar, who brought international infamy on Goa through his “insensitive” remarks.

Canadian province may face recession due to low oil price

by

Canada’s western province of Alberta may slip into an economic recession this year because of the plunge in oil prices at the international market, the Conference Board of Canada has predicted.

The independent and non-profit economic think tank, predicted in a report released Monday that the lower oil prices would affect oil-heavy economy of Alberta most prominently and may face an actual recession instead of a slowdown, Xinhua reported.

Five suspects in army school attack arrested in Afghanistan

by

Afghan security forces with the help of Pakistani intelligence have apprehended five suspects for their alleged involvement in the Peshawar Army Public School attack that had claimed lives of at least 146 people, including 134 students, media reported Tuesday.

All the five suspects hail from Pakistan and are key commanders of a proscribed outfit, Geo News reported citing sources.

The suspects carried out the planning of the attack and also served as the coordinators, the sources added.

DiCaprio, Rihanna’s flirty moment?

by

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and singer Rihanna were reportedly spotted flirting with each other at a party here.

The duo were caught in the wrong moment at designer Nikki Erwin’s 30th birthday bash at the Playboy Mansion Saturday, reports eonline.com.

However, there are two contradicting theories where one states that they were ‘just chatting’ and the other mentions that they were getting intimate.

Aguilera’s new music is like ‘Caviar Ratchet’

by

Singer Christina Aguilera’s new album is her most urban tracks, says Marcos Palacios and Ernest Clark- the duo of the production company Da Internz.

The hitmakers behind Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” and Big Sean’s “Dance”, told Rap-Up magazine that they’d been working on a new genre of music which they describe as “caviar ratchet” for Aguilera’s upcoming studio effort, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“Best way I could describe it is gourmet ratchet. It’s Upper Echelon music with ratchet hood drums. Caviar ratchet,” said Kosine, one half of Da Internz.

Jet promoter pledges entire stake to PNB

by

Jet Airways Tuesday said that its promoter Naresh Goyal has pledged his entre 51 percent stake in the company to Punjab National Bank (PNB).

According to a late evening regulatory filing at the Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE), the company disclosed that Goyal has pledged his stake to PNB, without disclosing any further detail.

Last year, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways had bought 24 percent stake in the airlines for around Rs.2,000 crore ($379 million).

French parliament approves extention of military operation in Iraq

by

France’s National Assembly (lower house) Tuesday approved to extend by four month military offensive in Iraq targeting the Islamic State (IS), which seized major towns in the OPEC-memeber country.

In an overwhelmingly vote, 488 voters in the 577 member strong lower house, were in favor of longer fight in Iraq versus one voted against.

30 bodies found in canal in Uttar Pradesh

by

Over 30 unclaimed and rotten bodies were found floating Tuesday in a canal in Unnao, 60 km from Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, polcie said.

Officials, soon after the discovery of the bodies noticed by the locals, rushed to the Paeriyar Ghat where people go to consign mortal remains to flames. Police said these bodies were of people whose families did not have enough money to give them a decent cremation.

Billiards: Kothari survives scare, Advani, Shah register easy wins

by

Top cueists on display at the National Billiards Championship had a relatively easy day out on the board, except Sourav Kothari who survived through a stern challenge from local boy Aamer Hossain to fight again at the Bengal Rowing Club Tuesday.

Rupesh Shah (PSPB) registered easy wins over Neeraj Kumar (RSPB) 3-0 with the scoreline reading 101(63)-0, 100(100)-12, 100(78)-26; and Amit Sharma (Delhi) 3-1 with scores of 101(81)-0, 101(72)-16, 89-100(65), 100(100)-02.

Resigned to protest anarchism, politicisation: outgoing Jadavpur VC

by

Ending four months of a bitter standoff with protesting students, Jadavpur University Vice Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti Tuesday announced his much-anticipated resignation, saying he had to step down in face of “undemocratic” and “unconstitutional” stir initiated by “politically-affiliated” students.

However, he minced no words in accusing the agitators of “indiscipline”, “militant activities” and of indulging in drug and alcohol abuse. Quashing rumours, the academician said his resignation is not linked to any pressure.

Bengal minister under fire for obscene remark

by

A West Bengal minister has invited sharp criticism after saying that women activists of the opposition CPI-M used to tear off their own blouses to claim they were victims of violence.

“Don’t tell me about the women’s wing of the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist). They often used to tear off their own blouses and claim they were victims of violence,” said Minister of Small Industries and Textiles Swapan Debnath.

Delivering a speech at a rally in Burdwan, the Trinamool Congress leader also took a dig at police.

Roads to be built in ‘mission mode’ in insurgency-hit states

by

Construction of roads and bridges in Maoist-affected areas would be carried out in ‘mission mode’ with pre-cast and other advanced technologies, union minister Nitin Gadkari said Tuesday.

“Road projects will be carried out through ‘mission mode’ in coordination with the insurgency-hit states,” the minister for road transport, highways and shipping said at a press conference after meeting chief ministers and ministers of eight Maoist-affected states in Naya Raipur.

SC directs government to appoint child rights panel chief, members

by

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the central government to appoint the chairman and the members of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as same was dysfunctional on account of their absence.

Pulling up the government for not making the appointments, a bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit asked Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh as to why the NCPCR was being kept non-functional and defunct by not filling up the vacant positions.

The court said that it found about the state of affairs in the NCPCR from its website.

Manoj Mitra resigns as West Bengal Natya Akademi president

by

Thespian Manoj Mitra Tuesday resigned as president of the state-run West Bengal Natya Akademi, a body that works for promotion of theatre and drama, saying he did not have freedom to take decisions on his own.

“Though I was the president, I had no freedom. I could not work,” said the veteran theatre personality, a front-ranking playwright, stage director and actor in Bengal.

“I have taken the decision to resign. I am sending my resignation today (Tuesday) itself,” Mitra said.

He, however, said no one should try to cite any political reason for his decision.

ICC to continue engagement of CII for 2015 WC commercial rights protection

by

International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to continue its engagement with Copyright Integrity International (CII) in order to obtain commercial rights-protection and anti-piracy services for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Based in Bengaluru, India, CII is a privately-held specialist in online and offline anti-piracy protection services for sports clients.

Situation with basic reading ‘extremely disheartening’ in India: Report

by

As much as 25 percent of Class 8 students cannot read a Class 2 level text, an education report launched Tuesday said, noting that overall, the situation with basic reading continues to be “extremely disheartening” in India.

“In 2014, in Standard (Class) 3, only a fourth of all children can read a Standard 2 text fluently. This number rises to just under half in Standard 5. Even in Standard 8, close to 75 percent children can read Standard 2 level text (which implies that 25 percent still cannot),” said the 10th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2014).

Flipkart to make 10,000 sellers millionaires

by

E-retailer Flipkart Tuesday said about 10,000 sellers would become millionaires by selling their goods on the online platform during 2015.

“About 2,000 sellers became millionaires in 2014, with 500 of them doing business of Rs.10 lakh (Rs.1 million) in December, while 50 of them did a business of Rs.1 crore each,” the city-based e-commerce player said in a statement here.

With about 30 percent year-on-year growth, sellers of apparels and consumer electronics crossed the millionaire-mark, followed by their counterparts in home decor, jewellery, handicraft and large appliances.

Injured Duminy, De Kock `running` ahead of schedule to be fit for WC

by

Injured South African players JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock have been recovering well from their respective injuries in order to get fit for the World Cup, which gets underway on 14 February in Australia and New Zealand. All-rounder Duminy said that his plan was to come back on Friday for the first one-day internationals against West Indies and his knee had been holding up pretty well, adding that last 10 days had probably been the most vigorous in terms of rehab, Sport24 reported.

Cipla challenges order restraining sale of drug

by

Pharmaceutical firm Cipla Tuesday moved the Delhi High Court, challenged its single judge bench’s order temporarily restraining from manufacturing or selling any drug containing chemical indacaterol, used for treating chronic respiratory disease.

The matter was mentioned before a division bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva who fixed the matter for Wednesday for further hearing.

Clarke should have got more time to recover: Hussey

by

Former Australian Test cricketer Michael Hussey has said that injured captain Michael Clarke should have been given two more weeks time to recover rather than the deadline of Feb 21 by the selectors, when the Aussies take on Bangladesh in their second group encounter in the World Cup.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor calls on PM Modi

by

The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nirbhay Sharma, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence here on Monday. “Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma, Governor, Arunachal Pradesh met PM @narendramodi,” PMO’s twitter handle said. It was a courtesy call. (ANI)

Ban on cock fights still in force: Animal welfare panel

by

Following the Supreme Court order for the status quo on cock fights in Andhra Pradesh, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Monday clarified that the ban is still in force and any violation will amount to contempt of court.

The AWBI, which comes under the union environment and forests ministry has requested Andhra Pradesh Police to ensure that no cock fights are held in the state during Sankranti festival.

By-poll to one Lok Sabha, six assembly seats Feb 13

by

Bye-elections would be held in one Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal and six assembly constituencies in other states on Feb 13, the Election Commission announced Monday.

Bye-elections would be held for the parliamentary constituency of Bangaon in West Bengal and one assembly constituency each in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, said Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath.

The last date of filing nominations would be Jan 27 and withdrawal of candidature Jan 30. Counting would be held on Feb 16.