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.

Pleasant Monday, Tuesday to be similar

by

Delhi saw a sunny Monday with the maximum temperature recorded at 20.7 degrees Celsius, average for the season. The Met office has forecast similar weather conditions Tuesday.

The morning was chilly and there was moderate fog which did not affect the movement of trains much.

The minimum temperature was 7.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average.

“Shallow fog is expected Tuesday morning, but the sky will become clear later in the day,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department.

India reacts strongly to US ‘certification’ of Pakistan

by

In a strong reaction to Washington’s pat to Islamabad for acting against terror groups, India Monday said it does not believe Pakistan was showing “sustained commitment” in fighting such outfits.

India, however, said how Washington chooses to spend US taxpayers’ money “is entirely its prerogative”.

The ‘certification’ by the US makes Pakistan eligible for an aid package under the Kerry-Lugar Bill.

Saudi crown prince to deliver annual royal speech

by

As King Abdullah continues to be ill, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, will address the nation Tuesday at the Shoura Council, the supreme consultative body, its president, Abdullah Al-Asheikh said.

Prince Salman will be delivering the king’s annual speech that will feature the agenda of the third year of the council’s sixth session, Arab News reported.

His speech will deal with the domestic and foreign policy of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Shoura law.

HC refuses to interfere in Sarita Devi’s ban

by

The Delhi High Court Monday declined to interfere in the one-year ban imposed on boxer L. Sarita Devi by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the refusal of Boxing India (BI) to appeal against it.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw disposed of a plea observing that no appeal has been filed by BI against AIBA order and the court cannot direct it to file an appeal.

“As no appeal against the order passed by AIBA on Dec 17, 2014 has been filed to revoke her (Sarita Devi) suspension, court can not direct the same,” said the bench.

Kejriwal misleading Delhi’s traders: BJP

by

The state unit of the BJP Monday accused AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal of “misleading” the city’s traders by claiming that raids against commercial establishments went down during the party’s 49-day rule in Delhi.

Citing Right to Information (RTI) data, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Satish Upadhyay said that between Jan 5 and Feb 14, 2014, when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was at the helm in Delhi, 151 raids were conducted on commercial establishments.

Ranji: Sehwag scores century, J&K hit back to stay afloat

by

Virender Sehwag’s second consecutive century (not out 147) lifted Delhi to 278 for seven on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy encounter against Haryana at Lahli, Rohtak, while Jammu and Kashmir, after being dismissed for 160 in their first innings, kept themselves in the hunt by reducing hosts Karnataka to 123 for five at stumps on the first day in Hubli Monday.

BSF trooper killed, woman injured in Pakistan shelling

by

A BSF trooper was killed and a woman critically injured Monday in mortar shelling by Pakistan on the international border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) constable – identified as Devinder Singh of the 9th battalion – was killed in shelling by the Pakistan Rangers on Khawada post, a police official told IANS here.

The woman, identified as Shibo Devi, wife of Dewan Chand and a resident of Baingalard village in Samba, was hit by a mortar splinter.

Samajwadi Party legislator in UP gets life term for murder

by

A legislator of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) was Monday sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder in Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The member of the state assembly from Charkhari, Kaptan Singh and his brother Mangal Singh were Saturday convicted of murder of a person, Kishan Dubey, in 2002 in police custody.

Kaptan Singh last year won the bypoll from Charkhari assembly constituency, after union Water Resource Minister Uma Bharti vacated the seat.

Kush storms into British junior squash semis

by

Kush Kumar, the Indian Under-19 champion, stood up to the Egyptian surge in the British Junior Open Squash Championship with a 3-2 win over Amr Arafa to enter the semi-finals here.

However, two other Indians, Velavan Senthilkumar (U-17) and Tushar Shahani (U-15) lost their respective quarter-final matches to Egyptian opponents Sunday.

While Kush overcame Arafa 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5, 15-13 in an hour-long thriller, Youssef Ebrahim put out Senthilkumar 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10 and second seed Mostafa Assal eased past Shahani 11-3, 11-0, 11-5 in just 21 minutes.

‘Tevar’ stars named brand ambassador of NGO Prayas

by

Actors Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Manoj Bajpayee, stars of the forthcoming action thriller “Tevar”, were Monday named brand ambassadors of NGO Prayas, which provides unprivileged children basic needs including food, shelter and education.

The “Tevar” cast also visited the Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre (JAC) Society to promote their film and they spent some time with the children, who looked anxious to meet and greet their favourite stars.

Three Kerala ministers took bribes from bar owners: Achuthanandan

by

Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani was not the only one who received bribes from bar owners, but Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Excise Minister K. Babu also took money to tweak the state’s liquor policy, former chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Monday.

Chennithala and Babu, however, denied the allegations.

Achuthanandan said this during a protest in front of the State Secretariat here, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mani for taking bribes from bar owners to tweak the liquor policy.

Dhawan, Pujara expected to be axed for fourth Test

by

Newly appointed Indian Test captain Virat Kohli is set to make a clear statement that he is the big boy in town by axing opener Shikhar Dhawan, who reportedly stood up to him in a heated exchange in Brisbane.

The 26-year-old Kohli is wasting no time in marking out his territory, with opener Dhawan and middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara expected to be dropped for the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), reports heraldsun.com.au.

Chhattisgarh: Eunuch Madhu Kinnar wins Raigarh mayoral election

by

A eunuch on Sunday scripted history by winning the Mayor’s election in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation, defeating his nearest rival from BJP.

Independent candidate Madhu Kinnar won the Mayoral election of the Raigarh Municipal Corporation by 4,537 votes against BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji, an election official said.

Madhu, 35, belonging to Dalit community, is the first eunuch to get elected as Mayor in the state.

Al Shabaab claims responsibility for Somalia bomb attack

by

Somalia’s Al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide bomb attack in Somali, which killed at least 6 people and injured several others.

“We are targeting convoy of special forces units Alpha Group, and killed many of them at suicide attack,” Xinhua reported citing Al-Shabaab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage as saying.

The bomb exploded in front of a military base in Mogadishu.

Badaun rape: Senior police officer reveal survivor’s name, address

by

In an insensitive move, the Additional Director General of Police on Saturday disclosed the identity of the girl’s parents and their residential address while talking to reporters after having an hour long meeting with her family members. Awasthi said that there was no criminal record of the two constables, but one them had been penalised for dereliction of duty in the past.

Kim looks almost unrecognisable in photoshoot

by

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian looks different from her usual self on the cover of a magazine.

The 34-year-old, who usually flaunts a healthy glow, looks dark and mysterious on the cover of the new issue of Love magazine, reports people.com.

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star tweeted a picture of the cover Saturday writing: “Can’t wait for u to see 30+ page spread with Stephen Klein for Love Magazine.”

Kim added that working with photographer Klein “was so crazy! We shot for 3 days straight at a motel in LA. One night till 4am.”

(IANS)

Paramilitary soldiers deployed in Bangladesh as opposition to hold rally

by

Paramilitary soldiers have been deployed in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka to thwart any untoward incident over the opposition’s plans to hold rallies defying police bans.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops were seen to guard strategic points of the capital city since 6.00 p.m. Sunday, Xinhua reported.

BGB deployment has been done initially in a limited scale but the force have been asked to remain ready to carry out any further order, said sources.

Rihanna to quit dating rappers?

by

Singer Rihanna has reportedly decided not to date rappers following her failed relationships with Chris Brown and Drake.

According to a source, the 26-year-old, who has suffered enough heartbreak during her past relationships with Brown and Drake, is telling her friends she will never date rappers like them again, reports hollywoodlife.com.

“She isn’t going to mess with anybody in the industry like that anymore. Those guys bring her nothing but pain and heartbreak,” the source said.

Two suspected NDFB militants arrested Assam-Bengal border

by

Two suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants were arrested late Sunday in West Bengal near Assam border.

The militants were nabbed from Shamuktala under the Shamuktala police station in Alipurduar district of West Bengal close to the border with Assam.

Both militants were identified as Gangaprasad Basumata and Sagid Narjinari from Kolkrajhar district in Assam. Police said.

A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from them, Police added.

(IANS)

Sri Lankan president confident of minority vote

by

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sunday expressed confidence in securing minority Tamil votes at the presidential election, although Sri Lanka’s main Tamil political party, urged the Tamils to back opposition candidate.

Rajapaksa said that the Tamil political party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is not with the government for the election does not mean that the people in the north are not with him, Xinhua reported.

Pakistan to start repatriation of IDPs next month

by

Pakistan Army Chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, Sunday said that repatriation of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as the result of a major military offensive in North Waziristan tribal area will begin next month.

The military launched the long awaited operation in June 2014 after peace talks with the Taliban faced a deadlock.

Nearly 90 percent areas have been cleared of the Pakistani Taliban and foreign militants, Xinhua reported citing security officials as saying.

Tension in central Mumbai after communal clash

by

Tension prevailed at Lalbaug after a group of people allegedly hit people from another community at around 10pm on Sunday.

Heavy police bandobast was deployed near Lalbaug flyover and all the bikers were being frisked and examined for their documents.

A bike was reportedly set on fire. The reason for the tension between two groups was not clear.

Australia, South Korea set to dominate Asian Cup Group A

by

Australia and South Korea look odds-on favorites in Group A, which also includes Oman and Kuwait, to qualify for the knockout stage at the AFC Asian Cup starting here Jan 9.

As the hosts, Australia will look to impress in front of their home fans, reports Xinhua.

Australia might have torrid time in the 2014 World Cup losing three back-to-back games but in Asia they are still a powerhouse.

Former Everton striker Tim Cahill will lead the attack for the Aussies. Besides Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Ryan are some of the other big names set to star.

Perth heat will help my Australian Open ambitions: Serena

by

Women’s World No.1 Serena Williams has said playing in the Hopman Cup under hot weather conditions here will help her excel in the Australian Open starting Jan 19.

Williams will be in action in the United States of America’s (USA) opening Cup tie against Italy at the Perth Arena Monday when temperatures are expected to reach a maximum 41 degrees Celsius.

“It’s going to help me for Melbourne,” Williams was quoted as saying by news.com.au Sunday.

Allrounder Soumya Sarkar in Bangladesh World Cup squad

by

Bangladesh Sunday picked all-rounder Soumya Sarkar in their 15-member squad for the 2015 One-day International (ODI) cricket World Cup.

Sarkar made his international debut against Zimbabwe in December last year and made 20 runs. It has been his only appearance for Bangladesh so far.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam were also included in the squad.

Masrafe Mortaza will lead the side while experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been named the vice-captain.

The World Cup starts Feb 14.