3 killed in Peshawar blast
At least three people were killed and six others injured in a blast in Pakistan’s northwesten Peshawar city Friday, Xinhua reported, citing the local media.
Month: August 2012
10 injured as plane makes emergency landing in Lahore
At least 10 people were injured when a passenger plane made an emergency landing at an airport in Pakistan’s Lahore city Friday, reported Xinhua, citing local media.
According to reports, the accident occurred when a passenger plane of state-run Pakistan International Airline (PIA), carrying around 35 people, slid off the runway while landing due to rainy weather.
Earlier reports said that about 150 passengers were on board.
7.6-magnitude quake off central Philippines
A major earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale was felt off the east coast of Samar province in the central Philippines at 8.47 p.m. local time Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
No casualties or property damage has been reported so far.
The epicentre of the quake was initially determined to be 146 km east of Samar with a depth of 34.9 km.
A tsunami warning was issued for the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan region immediately after the earthquake by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
IIT-Kanpur to probe presence of Akbari Mosque in Delhi park
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Friday told the Delhi High Court that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur would carry out a survey to ascertain if there any Mughal-era mosque structure existed near Subhash Park in central Delhi.
The ASI submitted its status report in a sealed cover to a special bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice Rajiv Shakdher saying that IIT-Kanpur will conduct a ground penetration radar survey of the site and submit its report by the end of September.
Indian economy grows at a sluggish 5.5%
The Indian economy grew at a sluggish 5.5 percent in the first quarter of this fiscal in comparison to 8 percent in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year owing to poor performance of manufacturing, mining and agriculture sector, official data showed Friday.
The April-June quarter data is slightly better than the 5.3 percent growth registered in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) during the quarter ended March 31, 2012.
The figure is better than analysts’ expectations of 5.2 percent.
Stringent mobile radiation norms from Saturday
Stringent new radiation norms for mobile phone towers and mobile handsets will come into effect Sep 1 across the country, the government announced Friday, keeping in view their possible adverse impact on human health.
“We have to be careful as a nation. Technology must be embraced but ultimately public health should not be compromised,” Communications Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here, unveiling the norms.
Not quitting, BJP negating democracy: PM
On Board Air India One, Aug 31 (IANS) A combative Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday asserted he was here to stay and attacked the BJP for its “diversionary tactics” in stalling parliament and demanding his resignation over grant of coal mining rights that has swirled into a major national controversy.
He said the UPA-II government was elected for a five year term and the BJP should respect the “verdict of the people”.
DRDO to take action against terror suspect researcher
Taken by surprise over the arrest of one of its researchers in Karnataka for links with Pakistan-based terror outfits, India’s defence research agency Friday announced that it was initiating disciplinary action against him under government rules.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) spokesperson Ravi Gupta said the youth, identified as Aijaz Ahmed Mirza, was only a junior researcher, which is a temporary position.
Mirza was not an employee, Gupta clarified.
I hope Rahul Gandhi will seriously consider joining govt: Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said he is sincerely hoping that Rahul Gandhi will “seriously” consider his request to join the government.
“I have always been favouring that Rahul Gandhi should play a more active role in the government. I have invited him to be a member of the Cabinet on several occasions. I sincerely hope that this time he will consider it very seriously, my request,” Singh said when asked about his earlier remarks that Gandhi should play more active role in the government.
Several killed in New Jersey supermarket shootout
Several people, including the gunman, were killed today in a shootout in a New Jersey supermarket, the fourth such incident in the US in over a month.
Pictorial Representation onlyAuthorities were called to the Pathmark on Route 9 in Old Bridge at about 4 am local time, NBC reported.
A heavy police presence was visible outside the supermarket in New Jersey this morning. SWAT teams had set up a command post in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant.
Scoreboard: India vs New Zealand, Second Test, Day
Scoreboard of the first day of the second cricket Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here Friday.
New Zealand (1st innings)
Martin Guptill c Gambhir b Ojha 53
Brendon McCullum lbw Zaheer 0
Kane Williamson lbw Ojha 17
Ross Taylor lbw b Ojha 113
Daniel Flynn lbw Ashwin 33
James Franklin c Raina b Ojha 8
Kruger van Wyk batting 63
Doug Bracewell batting 30
Extras (b 2, lb 9) 11
Total (for six wickets in 81.3 overs) 328
11 men arrested from Karnataka for suspected terror links
M Siddiqui a journalist along with other 10 was arrested in Karnataka for alleged terror links. The whole process was carried out by the police secretly. The accused were produced before a magistrate last night and sent to 14 days police custody.
M Siddiqui, a 27 year old journalist is alleged to be the mastermind behind indentifying high profile personalities to target. The police sources alleged that his contacts as a journalist allowed him access and helped him learn about these targets.
Faqeer Ko Kabhi Khali Hath Mat Bhejo
Ek Ghar Ke Aage Faqeer Khada Hokar Bola
Faqeer: “Allah Ke Naam Pe Kuch De Do?”
Ghar Ke Andar Se Ladki Aayi Aur Boli.
Ladki: “Kuchh Nahi Hai Baba, Maaf Karo”
Faqeer: “Apna Mobile No. Hi De Do, Baba Dua Bhi Karega Aur Message Bhi“
Bina Ticket Train Mein Safar Na Hi Karo To Achha Hai
Train Mein Ek Sadhu Kahin Jaa Raha Tha.
T.T. Ticket Kaat Ta Hua Uske Pass Pahuncha Aur Puchha.
T.T: “Kahan Jaana Ha?”
Sadhu: “Jahaan Raam Ji Ka Janam Hua Tha”
T.T: “Hmm, Ticket Hai?”
Sadhu: “Nahi”
T.T.: “Chalo Fir”
Sadhu Hairani Se: “Kahaan?”
T.T.: “Jahaan Krishan Ji Ka Janam Hua Tha, Jail Mein“
What babies eat determines risk of obesity
Baby rats which get normal levels of dietary fat right after birth, even though their mothers were fed high-fat diets, avoid obesity and related disorders as adults, according to new research.
Conversely, rat babies exposed to a normal-fat diet in the womb but nursed by rat mothers on high-fat diets become obese by the time they are weaned.
Low calorie diet doesn’t add to longevity
London, August 31: After all the hype over a low calorie diet being the tried and tested way to shed unwanted pounds or adding years to your life, comes the disappointing news — it doesn’t add to your longevity.
“If there’s a way to manipulate the human diet to let us live longer, we haven’t figured it out yet and it may not exist,” said biologist Steven Austad from the University of Texas Health Science Centre, who conducted the analysis.
BJP lawmaker, 31 others get life terms for Naroda Patiya killings
Ahmedabad, August 31: A special Gujarat court Friday sentenced Bharatiya Janata Party legislator and former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani to 28 years in jail for her involvement in the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Naroda Patiya where 97 Muslims were killed.
Former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was also convicted in the case, has been awarded life imprisonment till death, while the other 30 convicts were also awarded life terms.
Some day Tata Motors will have plant in Bengal: Ratan Tata
Showing no bitterness over what happened in Singur, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata Friday said some day Tata Motors will have a plant somewhere in West Bengal and reiterated that the salt-to-software conglomerate has no intention to “walk away” from the state.
“Several persons have asked about Singur. I think it doesn’t bring any sense of anger to me, just a sense of sadness that we couldn’t do something here,” Tata told shareholders at the annual general meeting of Tata Global Beverages here.
Some day Tata Motors will have plant in Bengal: Ratan Tata
Showing no bitterness over what happened in Singur, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata Friday said some day Tata Motors will have a plant somewhere in West Bengal and reiterated that the salt-to-software conglomerate has no intention to “walk away” from the state.
“Several persons have asked about Singur. I think it doesn’t bring any sense of anger to me, just a sense of sadness that we couldn’t do something here,” Tata told shareholders at the annual general meeting of Tata Global Beverages here.
On day of plenty US wins, Andy Roddick says he`ll quit
By turns a bit wistful and at his wisecracking best, Andy Roddick let the tennis world in on a little secret he kept for a couple of days: This US Open will be the last tournament of his career.
Roddick made the surprising announcement at a hastily arranged news conference Thursday, his 30th birthday, at Flushing Meadows, the site of his biggest triumph — the 2003 championship, the last time an American man won a Grand Slam singles trophy.
Kingfisher may face operational shutdown as losses hound KFA
Beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) may face pressure to shut down its operations temporarily owing to unremitting losses and pressure from lenders that have kept hammering the company for a long time now.
The debt-laden airline, which has reported a loss of Rs. 651 crore in April-June, compared with a loss of Rs. 264 crore in the year-ago period, has never made profit since it was founded in 2005.
RBI asks people not to invest in illegal finance companies
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Friday asked people in the northeast not to deposit money in unauthorised non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and institutions expecting hefty returns.
“People should not deposit their hard earned capitals in unauthorised and illegal NBFCs and institutions expecting of getting heavy returns. The people should also inform the RBI and the appropriate authorities on these NBFCs’ acts and lodge complaints against the banking services,” B.B. Sangma, banking Ombudsman for northeastern states, told reporters.
India’s Q1 GDP growth at decade low of 5.5%
Showing persistent sluggishness, economy grew by 5.5 percent in the April-June quarter this fiscal due to poor performance of manufacturing, mining and farm sectors.
The gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded by 8 percent in the April-June quarter of 2011-12.
During the quarter ended June 30, the manufacturing sector grew marginally by 0.2 percent, against 7.3 percent growth in the same period of 2011-12, according to the official data released today.
No breakthrough until Dalai changes stand: China
Rebuffing the Dalai Lama’s remarks that there were “encouraging signs” about China changing its attitude towards Tibet, a top Chinese official has said there would be no breakthrough in talks until the Tibetan spiritual leader changed his stand on “some fundamental issues”.
Playing down expectations of any “new approach”, Xu Zhitao, an official with the United Front Work Department of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, denied any recent official visits to hold talks with the Dalai in his exile.
Sensex closes 160 points down
A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday closed 160.89 points lower provisionally as fresh data showed India’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a much lower pace of 5.5 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal.
GDP was down from an 8 percent growth rate achieved during the like period of 2011-12.
Scrips of metals, realty and auto were worst hit, while all other sectoral indices of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) were down.