Month: February 2013

Pakistan, Bangladesh border to get 509 posts: president

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India will build 509 additional outposts along the border with Bangladesh and Pakistan, President Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday.

Addressing a joint session of parliament, he said the government was giving high priority to border management.

“In addition to border fencing, roads and flood-lighting along the borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar, the government has decided to undertake the construction of 509 additional border outposts along the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Pakistan border,” the president said.

–_IANS

Two ministers quit Karnataka BJP ministry

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Two ministers Thursday quit the Karnataka BJP ministry and were set to resign from the assembly and the party too.

The two are Forest Minister C.P. Yogeshwar and Small Industries Minister Narasimha Nayak, who is also known as Raju Gowda.

Gowda told reporters here that they have submitted their resignation to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

They would later meet Speaker K.G. Bopaiah to submit the resignation from the assembly, he said.

The resignations come ahead of local body elections in March and assembly elections due in May.

When Ali Zafar did a John Abraham!

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Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar ended up rehearsing just in his boxers, a la John Abraham, while shooting for “Chashme Baddoor”. He stripped all thanks to a prank played on him by his co-stars Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma.

A day before the filming of the song “Har ek friend kamina hota hai”, Ali was told by his notorious co-stars that director David Dhawan had included a sequence in the song, where Ali would have to strip and be in his boxers only.

When Ali didn’t believe it, and spoke to Dhawan about it, the comic director joined into the prank too, and said ‘yes’.

Dharmana attends office

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Minister for Roads and Buildings Dharmana Prasada Rao today attended office after a gap of six months. He entered the D Block Chamber for official duty signaling that all is well.

Dharmana has resigned after being named in the Vancpic case. His resignation was not accepted and the cabinet adopted a resolution not to give permission to the CBI court to prosecute him.

Bandh: Banking, Transport sectors affected

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Banking and other Public Sector Units remained closed for the second day in response to the 48-hour bandh called by nine Trade Union Ogansations demanding immediate settlement of their charter of demands.

While Banking, Insurance and other industries where the Trade Union presence is strong, the strike was more pronounced. Banking and transport sectors were severely hit and workers of Singereni Collieries, various jute mills and units boycotted work.

In districts, the RTC buses did not ply to the capacity as many of the Opposition parties extended support to the general strike.

HC rejects plea: Satyam case

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Andhra Pradesh High Court today rejected the appeal against the penalty in the Satyam case.

The petition filed by Vadlamani Srinivas and Ramakrishna challenging the penalty was rejected by the single-judge bench of the High court. (INN)

Academic exchanges proposed between MANUU & Saudi Universities

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Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Vice-Chancellor today proposed Academic exchange programme between Maulana Azad National Urdu University & Saudi Universities. In his presidential address during the inaugural session of 2-day national seminar on “Teaching Arabic Language in India: Curricula and Scope for Promotion”, he said, University could start credit based exchange for students from MANUU & Saudi Universities, with the approval of Govt. of India. He requested Dr. Ali Mohd. Al-Shehri, Cultural Attache, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, to facilitate in this regard.

Sharmila advised to hold her tongue

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Speaking at a press conference Mrs. Sobha Hymavathi asked YSR Congress leader Sharmila to hold her tongue. She challenged her to reveal the facts regarding the allegations made against her and her husband before public if she is truthful.

Bank, govt employees continue strike in AP

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Employees of banks and public sector organisations in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday continued their protests on the second day of the two-day strike called by Central trade unions in support of their various demands.

The personnel of various organisations, who stayed away from work yesterday, began their protests in Hyderabad and other places in Andhra Pradesh.

The employees of various PSU banks and workers in the unorganised sector took out protest rallies in Hyderabad and other parts of the state.

Is Hyderabad also not safe for women?

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When Nirbhaya was gang raped and murdered, the Supreme Court said Indian capital was not a safe place for women. Now after Nikhila’s kidnap attempt in the heart of Hyderabad, same doubts are being expressed about the safety of women in the AP capital.

 

Rail Budget 2013: 100 new trains to be introduced

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Railways are planning to introduce about 100 trains, including AC double deckers, new passenger services and extension of services to cater to the demands of various states in the Rail Budget 2013-14.

As far as rolling stock programme is concerned, the announcement will be made for manufacturing of 4200 new coaches including 600 LHB coaches in the Rail Budget.

While provision for manufacturing of 670 new locomotives including 20 LNG locos will be made, the budget will also account for manufacturing of about 16,000 new wagons.

State Minority Finance Corporation scam investigations intensify

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Government has intensified the investigations into State Minority Finance Corporation scam and new skeletons are coming out of the closet each day. Out of the two committees, under the investigative committee formed by the government under the supervision of joint secretary Minority Welfare, one has not submitted its report so far. The committee comprising of officials of the finance department had promised to submit its report till February 15, but it has not submitted its report so far. It is said to have sought time till the end of the current month.

Dialogue only way to restore world peace: IOS Int. Conf.

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(Pervez Bari): At the conclusion of the two-day International Conference on “India and the Muslim World in the 21st Century” which was held here in New Delhi recently has resolved that resolution of conflicts in religions and cultures through dialogue is the only instrument for the restoration and continuation of world peace.

Woman sells baby daughter in Bihar

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A poverty-stricken woman in this Bihar capital has claimed that she sold her two-month-old daughter for Rs.5,000 to a neighbour to raise money for her ailing husband’s medical treatment.

“I was compelled by poverty to sell my daughter Nazia to a woman who lives near my house to raise money for my husband’s stomach surgery. It was a hard step but there was no other option for me,” Shama Parveen, mother of three other minor sons, told IANS Thursday.

Shama is a resident of Murgian Tola in the city’s Isopur area.

President arrives in parliament

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President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday arrived in parliament to deliver his address to the two houses at the start of the budget session.

Speaker Meira Kumar and Vice President Hamid Ansari walked ahead of the president in the ceremonial procession that included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

According to former Lok Sabha secretary general Subash Kashyap, the first parliament session of the calendar year is addressed by the president.

Man indicted for stealing Dali painting from US gallery

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A 29-year-old man has been indicted for stealing Spanish artist Salvador Dali’s “Cartel de Don Juan Tenorio” from a New York gallery last year, authorities said.

Phivos Istavrioglou was arrested last Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport for taking the $150,000 painting from the Venus Over Manhattan gallery on the Upper East Side June 19, 2012.

Prime minister seeks productive, constructive budget session

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Minutes before the budget session of parliament commenced, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday sought productive and constructive sittings of the two houses.

“We’re looking forward to a productive, constructive session of parliament. That’s what our country’s people expect,” the prime minister told reporters outside parliament.

He also urged the opposition to participate in “responsible dialogue and debate”.

Pakistan announces ODI team for South Africa tour

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-man squad for the upcoming One-day International (ODI) series against South Africa, recalling former captain Shahid Afridi back to the team.

The 32-year-old, famous for his big hitting, was dropped from the team that visited India in December last year due to his continued poor performance with both bat and ball, reports Xinhua.

Government burdened by economic slowdown, security concerns: President

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President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday said the government was “burdened” by anxieties about economic slowdown, job insecurity and provision of security for women and children.

In his first address to a joint session of Parliament Thursday, Mukherjee spoke of persisting social and economic inequality, and said: “I am aware that an aspirational India is emerging, an India that demands more opportunities, greater choices, better infrastructure, and enhanced safety and security.

South Africa to push African agenda at BRICS summit

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The South African government has said it will push the African agenda at the 5th BRICS summit to be held in Durban March 26-27.

The summit will present a unique high-level opportunity for South Africa to further support key priority areas of the African agenda, said Fadl Nacerodien, the chief director at the Policy Research and Analysis Unit of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), reported Xinhua.

Minority Commissionerate to function in new building from March 1

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Minority Welfare Commissionerate is likely to function officially in a new building from March 1. Incharge Minority Welfare Commissionerate Mr. M A Waheed has decided to begin the work of setting up the office on war footing at the new building allotted at Tilak Road and the work is likely to complete within 10 days. He wants that the inauguration of the office to be done by State Minority Welfare Minister Syed Mohammed Ahmedullah on 1st March.

Prisoners petrol pump to be inaugurated shortly near Chanchalguda jail

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Andhra Pradesh jail department has adopted a creative method to increase the revenue of the department. Now a petrol pump has been setup near Chanchalguda jail. The proposed petrol pump is in the final phase of completion.

Prisoners will work as filling attendants at the petrol pump and they will be paid daily wages. They will work in shifts at the unique petrol pump which will run round the clock.

Minor raped by teenager in UP

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A four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted allegedly by a teenager in Ghosi area, police said here on Thursday.

The girl was sexually assaulted by her 16-year-old neighbour yesterday when she was alone in her house with her two-year-old sister, they said.

Police said the accused has been arrested and medical examination has confirmed sexual assault.

–PTI

Hope to see fruitful Budget Session: PM

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Ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament beginning on Thursday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh noted that the session comes in the backdrop of a global economic slowdown.

“We are meeting against the background of a global economic slowdown. It is up to all of us to take credible action to ensure that we are least affected (by the slowdown),” Singh told reporters outside Parliament.

Expressing hope for a productive Budget Session, the PM said “the way we conduct financial business in Parliament will be a credible indicator of how prepared we are to tackle the economic crisis”.