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.

Heat in Kerala assembly as opposition names Vadra for influence peddling

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The Left and the government Wednesday engaged in a heated spat in the Kerala assembly when the former referred to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s purported influence in a building complex in the state.

Seeking leave for an adjournment motion, CPI-M legislator P. Sreeramakrishnan said because of Vadra’s influence, all rules were being broken for an upcoming apartment complex of DLF Real estate company in Kochi.

Southwest monsoon arrives in Odisha

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The southwest monsoon arrived in Odisha Wednesday, bringing widespread rain in many parts of the state, an official said.

The monsoon has covered several coastal districts including of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Gajapati and Ganjam, an official of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre told IANS.

It also covered portions of Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj and conditions are favourable for its further advance into remaining parts of the state during next two days, he said.

Monsoon finally hits Bihar

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Monsoon rains finally lashed parts of Bihar Wednesday, bringing respite to millions affected by the scorching and humid summer as well as hope for farmers in the drought-hit state.

Several parts of Bihar including the eastern parts of the state and Patna experienced moderate to heavy rainfall. The sky over Patna was partly cloudy since Wednesday morning and more rain is expected Thursday.

Now, board an asteroid and reach Mars!

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If you have missed on playing Angry Birds Space, no worries. Just wait for the new version of the famous mobile game that would send you to NASA’s next target – asteroids – and eventually to Mars.

According to a statement by NASA, Angry Birds developers Rovio Entertainment and the US space agency have teamed up to develop “Beak Impact”.

India must protect Sri Lankan Muslims: Karunanidhi

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DMK president M. Karunanidhi Wednesday urged the central and Tamil Nadu governments to protect Muslims who have been attacked by Buddhist radicals in Sri Lanka.

Karunandhi said in a statement: “At a time when Muslims are being attacked, the central and state governments should come forward with their views to protect them.”

He said the US had condemned the attacks on Muslims in some parts of Sri Lanka. Other countries too had denounced the attacks.

MTV Bollyland expands to 12 gigs, 12 concerts in a year

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Bollywood and electronic dance music fusion property MTV Bollyland, which started off last year, is set to enthrall music buffs in 12 cities across the country via multiple club nights and concerts.

The MTV Bollyland property by LIVE Viacom18 has been specially conceptualised to ensure that music aficionados across the nation can experience the thrill of a live concert. The expansion plans are aimed at reaching out to tier-II markets.

Indian shot dead in Philippines by motorcycle thieves

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An Indian national has been shot dead in the Philippines by suspected motorcycle thieves.

Surinder Singh was on his way to collect money from his debtors at Kabacan of North Cotabato province Tuesday when he ws attacked, the Inquirer online reported Wednesday.

Singh was driving his motorcycle in Barangay Kayaga when he was flagged down by unidentified men.

Jordaine Maribojo, the Kabacan town police chief, said witnesses told investigators that one of the men without saying any word pumped bullets into Singh, using a .45 calibre pistol.

13 killed in blast at World Cup viewing centre in Nigeria

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At least 13 people were killed and 21 others injured when an explosion rocked a viewing centre in Nigeria where a FIFA World Cup match was being televised, sources said Wednesday.

Sanusi Rufa’i, chief of police of the northern state of Yobe, confirmed the incident to Xinhua, saying the explosion occurred Tuesday night right outside a crowded viewing centre in Damaturu, the state capital.

Rufa’i said a detachment of police officers had been deployed to the scene of the incident and details of the explosion or number of casualties were yet to be made available.

Ukraine plans elite military unit

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Ukraine will establish an elite Special Operation unit in the near future to counter threats to state security, acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Koval said here Wednesday.

“The president of Ukraine, who is supreme commander of the armed forces, and the National Defence and Security Council, have approved the creation of a new structure, which will participate in fighting and guard the security of our country,” Koval told reporters during a media briefing.

OIC voices concern over Sri Lanka violence

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The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed “serious concern” over attacks by Buddhist hardliners in Sri Lanka on Muslims.

OIC secretary general Iyad Ameen Madani Tuesday said the incidents of violence by extremists against Muslims had been reported in the Sri Lankan towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala among others.

He said the deaths of civilians as well as attacks on homes, businesses and mosques were “deeply regrettable”.

More Turkish citizens kidnapped in Iraq

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Iraqi militants have kidnapped 15 more Turkish citizens working on a construction site near Kirkuk in northern Iraq, media reported Wednesday.

A group of armed militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) raided the construction site of a hospital in northern Iraq Tuesday and kidnapped about 60 foreign workers, Xinhua cited Turkey’s daily Hurriyet as quoting a kidnapped person who was later freed.

He said the kidnapped foreign workers also included Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali and Turkmenistan nationals.

‘Kick’ will be Salman’s biggest hit ever: Arbaaz Khan

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Filmmaker Arbaaz Khan was “blown away” after watching the trailer of “Kick” and predicts that the film will turn out to his superstar brother Salman Khan’s biggest hit.

“The trailer of ‘Kick’ is outstanding. After watching it I was blown away,” Arbaaz told reporters here Tuesday at the Gillette initiative – Because You Are A Role Model.

“I am pretty sure that the film will be Salman’s biggest hit, inshallah,” he added.

My father is my inspiration: Arbaaz Khan

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Filmmaker Arbaaz Khan, son of legendary writer Salim Khan, says his father has always been his “role model” and he wishes to pass on some of his qualities, which he has also imbibed, to his son.

“My father has been inspirational and he has also been a role model for me. I kind of try to emulate him in every possible way and try to walk along his foot steps,” Arbaaz said.

He was speaking here Tuesday at a Gillette initiative – Because You Are A Role Model.

Congress workers protest at BJP headquarters

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Over 100 Congress workers Wednesday staged a protest outside the BJP headquarters here demanding the resignation of Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Nihalchand Meghwal over charges of sexual exploitation against him.

The protest, led by the women’s wing of the Congress, demanded that both the police and the Bharatiya Janata Party take action against Meghwal and that stricter laws be framed to protect women from harassment.

Sensex closes 274 points down; banks stocks fall

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A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday’s trade 274.94 points or 1.08 percent down as bank and oil and gas stocks declined.

The markets were cautious amidst weak global cues as a result of the worsening security situation in Iraq with crude oil prices scaling up to a nine-month high.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,565.19 points, closed trade at 25,246.25 points, down 274.94 points or 1.08 percent from the previous day’s close at 25,521.19 point.

BSF seizes 37 gold biscuits from Bangladesh national

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Border Security Force personnel have arrested a Bangladeshi national and seized 37 gold biscuits worth Rs.1.15 crore from him along the international border in West Bengal, officials said Wednesday.

A BSF release said acting on specific intelligence, the BSF Tuesday intercepted 27-year-old Md Monirozzaman alias Apu at the Petrapole border in North 24 Parganas district and seized the gold biscuits weighing over four kg.

Monirozzaman is a resident of Jessore district in Bangladesh.

RIL to begin 4G service in 2015; plans $30 bn investment

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Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) plans to invest Rs.180,000 crore ($30 billion) in its various businesses including oil and gas, retail and telecom in the next three years, company’s chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said Wednesday.

The company through its telecom arm Reliance Jio plans to roll out fourth-generation (4G) telecommunications services next year.

SC extends second round of counselling for medical admissions

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The Supreme Court Wednesday extended the second round of counselling for post graduate medical admissions in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Assam till June 23, saying the admission process including deposit of fees would be complete by June 25.

The order would be applicable to the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Assam who have yet to complete the second round of counselling, while Gujarat and Maharashtra informed the court that their admissions are over.

Stress may accelerate memory decline as you age

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Avoid undue stress in life as it may accelerate age-related changes in your brain.

Researchers have found that aged rats with high levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (similar to the human stress hormone cortisol) showed structural changes in the brain and short-term memory deficits.

“Research suggests that how the body responds to stress may be one of the factors influencing how the brain ages,” said Jason J. Radley from the University of Iowa.

Single drug soon to cure high cholesterol, breast cancer

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There may soon be a drug that could lower your cholesterol levels and also treat breast cancer. Researchers have shown that a compound initially developed as a cholesterol-fighting molecule can also kill cancerous cells.

“The compound exhibited anti-tumour properties in both human samples, which were outside the body, and in samples that were administered by injection into the mice,” explained Salman Hyder, professor of biomedical sciences at University of Missouri in the US.

Bengal bus strike: Panel to examine matter

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Days after West Bengal’s bus operators called a three-day strike demanding a fare hike, the state government Wednesday set up an all-party committee to examine the matter.

At least six private bus and minibus operators will strike from June 25 against the state government’s failure to revise fares in sync with the diesel price hike by the central government.

The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, one of the largest bus operators in the state, and a participant in the forthcoming strike, runs a staggering 37,000 buses across Bengal, including 8,000 in the state capital itself.

Chandy defends Travancore royal family over temple treasure

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Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday said the erstwhile Travancore royal family should be appreciated for keeping the treasures of the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple safe.

He also said the state government will showcase the precious wealth of the famed temple in a museum, if the Supreme Court agrees.

Chandy made this announcement in the state assembly after the Left opposition raised questions whether the precious temple wealth had been swindled.

Kerala nurses in Iraq demand return home or change of place

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The 46 Kerala nurses stranded in strife-torn Tikrit town in northern Iraq Wednesday asked the Indian embassy officials to either take them home or change their place of work.

Speaking to IANS over phone from Tikrit, the hometown of deposed and executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein now under control of Sunni militants, a Kerala nurse said the Indian embassy officials speak to them over phone every day and find out if they have taken food while also enquiring about their safety.

Why older men can’t build muscles fast

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Ever wondered why men with thinning hairlines find it so difficult to build muscles even when younger ones stack up soon?

Researchers believe they now know why, raising hope of addressing the condition of sarcopenia – significant loss of muscle mass and function that can occur as people age.

“In order for the body to make proteins that build muscle, certain genes need to be turned on,” said Donato Rivas, a scientist at Tufts University in the US.

35 missing in Malaysia boat accident

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A boat carrying 97 foreigners overturned early Wednesday off the western coast of Malaysia, an official here said. Sixty people were rescued and two others confirmed dead while at least 35 people were still missing.

The wooden boat capsized near Sungai Air Hitam about two nautical miles off the western coast of Malaysia and the fire and rescue department received a distress call at about 12.24 a.m. Their team reached the scene within 30 minutes, The Star reported.