Month: February 2013

Dhoni has been more assertive in Chennai Test: Gavaskar

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Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become more assertive and added that the faith shown on him by the Board and the selectors will spur him to do better.

“If the captain has the confidence of the board and the selectors, it gives him confidence to employ tactics on the field. It`s a huge plus. Now that he is doing so well, it will give him even more confidence,” Gavaskar said.

Dhoni stroked a maiden counter-attacking double hundred to lead India to a comfortable eight wicket victory over Australia in the first cricket Test here.

Afzal Guru ‘justified’ Parliament attack in letter written four years ago

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Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru had in a letter, purportedly written by him over four years ago, said that there was no need to be ashamed of the December 13 attack on Parliament, but had stopped short of owning any responsibility for it.

In the letter written to editor of a local Urdu weekly, Guru, who was hanged in Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 9, asked Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin not to be “ashamed of December 13” and stop terming the attack as a “conspiracy”.

Rajat Gupta ordered to pay $6.2 mn to Goldman Sachs

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India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has been ordered to pay USD 6.2 million for legal expenses incurred by his former employer during his trial in insider trading case.

Gupta, 64, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment after he was convicted of leaking secrets about the company to his friend and business associate Galleon founder Raj Rajaratnam, who is serving an 11-year prison term for running one of the biggest insider trading schemes in US history.

US sees enormous business opportunity in India’s growth

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Describing India as one of America’s “most trusted and valuable partners” in the Asia-Pacific region, a senior US official has said it would serve as the foundation for greater regional economic cooperation and expansion.

“Our relationship from our burgeoning trade, to defence sales and exercises, to our growing education and clean energy partnerships has never been stronger,” Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State, told a House panel Tuesday during a hearing on “The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters.”

Egypt seizes 19 missiles at border with Libya

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Egyptian border guards Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle 19 missiles at the Egyptian-Libyan border, a state-run media report said.

After exchanging fire with the smugglers, the border forces managed to seize four cloth sacks that included 19 missiles, Xinhua reported.

Smuggling of weapons has prevailed at the borders of Egypt, particularly with Libya and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, since the 2011 uprising that toppled the former regime of Hosni Mubarak.

IANS

Russia evacuates 25 nationals from Syria

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Russian embassy in Syria evacuated 25 Russian nationals from Syria’s Aleppo city, where fierce clashes continue between government forces and rebels, a spokesperson for the diplomatic mission said Tuesday.

The Russians, mainly women and children, were evacuated in two groups by military helicopters belonging to the Syrian army.

“The day before yesterday, 18 people left Aleppo for [the eastern Syrian city of] Latakia. Today, seven more people were evacuated,” he said, adding that two Belarusians and one Ukrainian woman were also among the evacuees.

Rajya Sabha approves president’s rule in Jharkhand

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Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Tuesday extolled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s skills in running a coalition government as Rajya Sabha approved a resolution approving proclamation of president’s rule in Jharkhand.

Shinde, who moved the resolution, said there was perception that small states will see good governments but Jharkhand had not seen very stable governments.

He denied suggestions that the decision to keep the state assembly under animated suspension during the president’s rule was motivated by political considerations.

China’s first aircraft carrier docks at port

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China first aircraft carrier ‘Liaoning’ was Wednesday docked at a military port in Qingado in eastern China, signifying its operational readiness in the midst of tension with Japan over disputed islands.

The aircraft carrier was built following a four-year construction, a Chinese military statement said.

‘Liaoning’, which was formally commissioned last year, left the wharf of Dalian ship building company yesterday for Qingdao, it said, adding that the aircraft carrier had conducted tests on its weapon system during the sail.

Teenage Maldives girl flogged for ‘premarital sex’

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A 15-year-old rape victim in Maldives has been sentenced to 100 lashes for engaging in premarital sex.

The charges against the girl were brought against her last year after police investigated accusations that her stepfather had raped her and killed their baby. He is still to face trial.

According to the reports, prosecutors said her conviction did not relate to the rape case.

Zaima Nasheed, a spokesperson for the juvenile court, said the girl was also ordered to remain under house arrest at a children’s home for eight months.

‘Nuke EWA between Indian, US companies likely this year’

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In what could be termed as an important development in the field of Indo-US nuclear cooperation, a top American official has said an early works agreement between companies of the two countries could be signed this year.

Speaking at a Congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake noted that both India and the US continue to work on implementation of the civilian nuclear deal despite their differences over the liability clause.

Indian-origin doctor testifies in Australian SC

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Indian-origin doctor Jayant Patel, who is facing a manslaughter trial in Brisbane, on Wednesday took the witness stand and testified in the Supreme Court.

According to ABC report, it is the first time that 62-year-old Patel has testified in defence of the charges.

The former Bundaberg Base Hospital director of surgery has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mervyn Morris, who died three weeks later at the hospital in 2003.

Mexico to launch new police force

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The National Gendarmerie proposed by President Enrique Pena Nieto will begin operating at the end of this year and will have 10,000 members, officials said.

The police force’s members are being selected, trained and certified by military commanders, Manuel Mondragon y Kalb, who has been nominated to run the National Security Commission, told senators.

The officers will be trained under “a strict military regimen” with the support of the army and navy, but they will also receive operational, police and legal, social and community development training, Mondragon said.

Technopark-based firm inks deal with Turkish Cargo

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Leading IT solutions provider to the global aviation industry, the Technopark-headquartered IBS Software, has signed a multi-million dollar, 10-year contract with Turkish Cargo, the cargo division of Turkish Airlines.

The contract is meant for the implementation of its iCargo solution.

Turkish Airlines is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world, with a staggering 39 percent growth in air cargo FTK (freight tonne kilometre) against an average of three percent growth for other European airlines.

Japanese lawmakers approves $142 bn stimulus package

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Japan’s parliament has approved a supplemental budget of 13.1 trillion yen ($142.43 billion) designed to finance an economic stimulus package.

Despite the fact that the governing Liberal Democratic Party lacks a majority in the upper house, lawmakers approved the budget thanks to the votes of the LDP’s coalition partner, the conservative Buddhist New Komeito party, and other groups on the right, the Kyodo news service said.

The main opposition Democratic Party voted against it.

18 die as fire ravages Kolkata market

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At least 18 people were killed and over a dozen critically injured Wednesday when a major fire broke out at an illegally-constructed multi-storey market complex here, authorities said.

“At least 18 persons have been killed in the fire so far,” an officer manning the city police control said.

Over a dozen critically injured people have been taken to hospitals.

The fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the market in central Kolkata. Twenty-six fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the flame.

Fatehpur Sikri was once a Jain pilgrimage centre

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Fatehpur Sikri, that Mughal emperor Akbar established as his capital and is now a World Heritage site 32 km from here, was once a “flourishing trade and Jain pilgrimage centre”, a new book says.

Basing his arguments on the excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1999-2000 at the Chabeli Tila, senior Agra journalist Bhanu Pratap Singh said the antique pieces, statues, and structures all point to a lost “culture and religious site,” more than 1,000 years ago.

Don’t like sex comedies: Arshad Warsi

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Arshad Warsi loves to entertain people with light-hearted films, but he is not game for sex comedies and prefers to be part of “intelligent” and “smart humour”.

In fact, he is still remembered for his role as Circuit in the “Munnabhai” series and his next “Jolly LLB” is a fun film too – and a clean one.

“I don’t like sex comedies or over the top comedies. I like intelligent and smart humour,” Arshad told IANS in a group interview.

Persian paved way for secular, mass education in India: Historian

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Persian language for the first time paved the way for secular and mass education in India, said historian and scholar Ziauddin Ahmed Shakeb. According to him, until the British rule was enforced, education in India was restricted only to Brahmins. “Aside from Muslims, no other Indian of a caste lower than Brahmins had access to literacy. In such a situation Persian offered itself as a language open to one and all,” he said while explaining why Persian and not an Indian language was used as an official language in India.

Arms dealer with huge weapons arrested in Imphal

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An arms dealer was arrested after a large number of weapons were allegedly found in his possession during a massive search operation in Imphal east district of Manipur.

Superintendent of Police (Imphal east district) Kamei Angam said following a tip-off, a police team led by officer in charge of district commandos inspector Achouba Meitei searched Shingjamei Bheigyabati Leikai area near here yesterday.

During the operation, an arms dealer identified as Khetrimayum Umakanta (44) was arrested.

PTI

Massive expansion of Haram Shareef

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After leading the Friday prayers of more than 20 lakh Umra aspirants, Imaam-e-Kaba told that Khadimul Harmain Shareef Shah Abdul Aziz is undertaking various modification and construction works to provide conveniences to Hajj and Umra aspirants. Soon electronic umbrellas, each one with a surface area of 40×40 ft will be installed at the outer area of Masjid Haram Shareef akin to that of Masjid Nabawi, to protect namazis from extreme heat. It must be noted that 500 such electronic umbrellas have been installed in Masjid Nabawi, Madina Munwarra.

NCP, MNS activists turn to violence in Maharashtra

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Tension erupted between NCP and MNS activists in Mumbai and other parts of the state Wednesday following a Tuesday rally addressed by Raj Thackeray in Ahmednagar.

Angry NCP activists pelted stones at vehicles in Raj Thackeray’s convoy early Wednesday in Mumbai and waved black flags at the MNS chief when his vehicle passed by last night.

In retaliation, activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) targeted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) offices in south Mumbai and suburbs, as well as Ahmednagar, Nanded, Akola, Yavatmal, Parbhani, Thane and damaged private and public vehicles.

‘Strong local policing, strict laws will curb terror attacks’

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Strengthening policing from the grass root level, enacting tough laws and speedy trial of cases would go a long way in preventing and controlling terror attacks in the country, experts say.

Stating that the twin blasts at Dilsukhnagar here last week were not a simple matter but a proxy war, former CBI director K Vijayarama Rao laid emphasis on prevention of such attacks by strengthening local policing and intelligence gathering mechanism.

The terror attacks are often carried out with the help of some local elements, he said.

Woman cop held for sending vulgar messages to bureaucrat

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A Bihar woman constable was arrested for sending vulgar SMSes and regularly calling on the mobile phone of a trainee IAS officer, police on Tuesday said.

Constable Joyti Kumari, posted in Gaya district, was taken into custody on Monday from near the official residence of trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Kanwal Tanuj in Kishanganj district, about 350 km from Patna.

“Police acted on the complaint of Kanwal Tanuj,” a district police official said.

Tanuj said that he was mentally tortured by the constable for nearly two months.

US Senate confirms Hagel as next Secy of Defence

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After a two month battle by a group of Republican senators opposing his nomination, the US Senate on Tuesday confirmed former Republican senator Chuck Hagel to be the next Secretary of Defense by a vote of 58-41.

Hagel is set to be sworn into office later Wednesday, more than a month after he was first nominated by President Barack Obama.

Republicans opposed Hagel’s nomination, citing concerns about his approach to Iran, his views on Israel and what many saw as a lackluster performance during his confirmation hearings.

Economic Survey to be tabled in Parliament today

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The Economic Survey to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday is likely to suggest a series of steps to arrest the declining GDP growth, which is estimated to be at the decade-low of 5 percent in the current fiscal.

Prepared by a team of economists, led by Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan, the Survey is likely to make a strong case for accelerating economic reforms to neutralise domestic and global factors which have stymied growth.