Month: February 2012

Baba Ramdev to hold day-long fast today

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Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will be holding a day-long fast in Goa on Sunday protesting corruption, black money and illegal mining.

This will be Ramdev’s first step into the limelight after the Supreme Court held him equally responsible for the Delhi Police crackdown on his supporters in June last year.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday claimed victory in the Ramlila crackdown case after the Supreme Court came down heavily on the state and Delhi Police for the midnight violence. However, he said that it was not right to say that he was equally responsible for the incident.

US lawmakers upset over Iraq buying basmati rice from India

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US Congress members from the largest rice-growing states are on warpath, asking Iraq to resume buying US long-grain rice, instead of from India.

“We liberated their country for one thing,” said Texas representative Ted Poe. “We would think they would consider the US in trade since we spent billions of dollars not only to liberate their country, but to rebuild their infrastructure.”

Twelve congressmen have fired off a letter to Iraq’s trade minister Khair Alla Babaker earlier this week pressing him to get Iraqis back on the American long-grain variety.

‘Quran burning will affect Taliban talks’

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Iran’s Ambassador to Kabul Fada Hossein Maleki says the burning of the Holy Qur’an by US soldiers in Afghanistan will affect Washington’s so-called peace talks with the Taliban.

On February 20, US soldiers burned the copies of Qur’an and other Islamic texts at the US-run Bagram Airbase, southeast of the city of Charikar in the Afghan province of Parwan.

Condemning the desecration of Qur’an, Maleki said after such an incident US actions in Afghanistan will come under criticism and they will face more problems.

Cooperate for border peace: China tells India

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China has asked India to cooperate with Beijing in maintaining peace and stability in the border areas, the foreign ministry said Saturday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks in response to a query on media reports that said Indian officials have pledged to guarantee “safety” of Arunachal Pradesh.

China’s stance on China-India border issues, including disputes regarding the eastern section, has been consistent and clear-cut, Xinhua quoted Hong as saying.

China is seeking a fair and rational solution through equal and friendly negotiations, the official said.

Obama calls US commander over Afghan violence

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US President Barack Obama telephoned the top American commander in Afghanistan Saturday to discuss the ongoing violence over the Quran burning.

Obama thanked Gen. John Allen, commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, for the “measures he is taking to protect our servicemembers and civilians”, the White House said in a statement.

Washington “remains committed to a partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan, as we work to realize our shared goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating Al Qaeda,” Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

I am a happy example of a girl child: Juhi Chawla

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Calling herself ‘a happy example of a girl child’, Bollywood actress and filmmaker Juhi Chawla today said considering that women and girls in India face steep odds when it comes to access to education and health, she feels thankful for ‘being what I am’.

Naidu urges PM to convene CMs meet on NCTC

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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader M Venkaiah Naidu today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss threadbare the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) issue and ally the fears of states.

Naidu refuses to comment on change of leadership in K’taka

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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party Leader M Venkaiah Naidu today declined to comment on the change of leadership of the BJP Government in Karnataka as demanded by Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. Addressing the press here, he said the Party President Nitin Gadkari had already stated his view on the issue and he (a former national president of the BJP) had nothing to say further. Mr Gadkari had rejected Mr Yeddyurappa’s appeal for re-instating him as the Chief Minister, in Bangalore yesterday.

TDP founder member K Venkatesham joins YSR Cong

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TDP founder member Kura Venkatesham (Algolu) today joined the YSR Congress Party as he was fed up with his Party President N Chandrababu Naidu and his policies.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Algolu, who had contested against Indira Gandhi in Medak Parliament elections, said he was harassed by the Congress. The same methodology was being used now on Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, he claimed. Tracing the history of TDP, he told reporters that he and Tatineni Rama Rao along with Nadendla Bhaskara Rao created the Telugu Desam Party and brought in NTR.

Woman kills 2 children, commits suicide

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A woman committed suicide by jumping into a well after killing her two children by throwing them into the same well at Siddeswara Colony of Shamshabad area here late last night. Police said today that due to family dispute, the woman, Mallamma (36), initially threw her two children– Lovanya (12) and Sunil (6) into the nearby village tank and later followed the suit. Though the incident occurred late last night, it came to light this morning when the bodies were seen floating in the tank. A case was registered and investigating is under progress, police added. UNI

Cases registered against foreigners for overstaying in the city

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The city police today conducted drives simultaneously by all the zones to ascertain the details of foreigners who were overstaying in the city.

A police release here said the police teams had enquired from the foreigners who were staying in the city in respect of valid documents, passport, visa and bonafide certficates from college/university and details of students on whether registration have made with Foreigner Regional Registration Offices(FRRO).

Vijaya Lakshmi refuses to withdraw from Mahabubnagar

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Vijaya Lakshmi, the widow of Rajeshwar Reddy, who filed nomination as independent candidate from Mahbubnagar Assembly constituency, on Saturday stated that she would not withdraw from the by-election.

Talking to media persons after meeting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his Camp Office, Vijaya Lakshmi condemned media reports that she was withdrawing from the by-elections after having discussions with the Chief Minister.

RTC to introduce GPRS in 12,185 buses

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As part of initiative to provide better service to the commuters, the State Road transport Corporation plans to introduce Vehicle Tracking and Passenger Information System in 12,185 buses covering all major cities.

Talking to media persons at Bus Bhavan in RTC Cross Roads, RTC Managing Director B Prasada Rao informed that Vehicle Tracking and Passenger Information System would receive information from the bus through GPRS and based on the software installed in the Central server the Estimated Time Arrival (ETA) of bus would be displayed on the LCD.

1 US veteran Commits Suicide Every 80 Minutes

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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) in a report titled ‘Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide,’ published in The Huffington Post said “America is losing its battle against suicide by veterans and service members.”

The CNAS study revealed both the cases of suicide and those of suicidal attempts have considerably increased among the US military veterans since the start of their active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Saif Tempts For ‘Mujra’ Performed By Kareena

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Actor Saif Ali Khan, who is gearing up for the release of his spy thriller, ‘Agent Vinod’ says to watch his girlfriend and leading lady Kareena Kapoor perform a ‘mujra’ would be fresh and exciting.

Kareena, who is paired opposite beau Saif in the forthcoming film, has performed a ‘mujra’ for the first time. The song, ‘Dil Mera Muft Ka’ is choreographed by veteran Saroj Khan.

Marri, Prasanna Kumar Reddy files nominations for by-polls

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Marri Janardhan Reddy on Saturday filed his nomination papers for Nagarkurnool Assembly constituency as a Telugu Desam Party candidate for which the by-elections scheduled to be held on March 18.

Marri Janardhan Reddy came in a procession along with his supporters to District Collectorate and filed his set of nomination papers during auspicious hours. Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Daidi Ilesha filed his nomination papers from Station Ghanapur Assembly constituency in Warangal district.

Kondru Murali asks Naidu to go for introspection

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Minister for 108 and 104 Services Kondru Murali on Saturday criticised Telugu Desam president N Chandrababau Naidu for launching campaign against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and his welfare schemes.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party office, Kondru Murali said that Naidu was unable to digest the popularity of Kiran Kumar Reddy Government and therefore, trying to tarnish his public image. Asking Naidu to introspect his style of functioning in the House, the Minister said that precious time of the House was wasted at the cost of public money.

Price of Iran war will be disastrous for US

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Former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinksi has warned Washington not to attack Iran and even prevent Israel from launching a military strike against the country.

“We don’t need to go to war. And we have to make that very clear to our Israeli friends,” he said in an interview with CNN on Friday.

“We’re not going to go to war. They’re [Israelis] not going to go to war by flying over our airspace over Iraq. We’re not going to support them,” Brzezinksi added.

Venkaiah accuses Kiran, Naidu of misusing the House

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Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday criticised Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and opposition leader N Chandrababau Naidu for using the State Legislative Assembly to personally target each other.

US drone crashes in Pakistan; Taliban claim responsibility

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Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for downing an unmanned US assassination drone in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region.

The drone went down near the Afghan border in the mountainous Machikhel area which is located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of Miranshah.

Although military officials in Peshawar say the drone crashed due to technical problems, the Taliban claim to have shot down the US drone.

The militants say they have collected the wreckage, and will soon release pictures of the drone.

WHO takes India off polio endemic list

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India has a reason to smile on the polio front, as it was taken off the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced at the Polio Summit 2012 here Saturday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.

“WHO has taken India’s name off the list of polio endemic countries in view of the remarkable progress that we have made during the past one year,” Azad said.

The prime minister lauded the health volunteers, saying the real credit goes to them.

Iran declines reports of arms supplies to Syria

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Iran has rubbished the media reports saying that it has sent weapons to Syria, ISNA news agency reported Saturday.

The Islamic republic of Iran rejects any military intervention in Syria’s developments and dismisses reports on weapons delivery to the Syrian government, Xinhua quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.

Iran’s position on Syria has always been supporting any reform in favour of the Syrian people, he said.

Earlier, media reported that Iran has kept supplying Syria with arms to assist its government to crack down on the opposition.