Month: February 2013

Boy killed in building collapse

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A 12-year-old boy was killed today when an old building collapsed at Maligaon area here, police said.

A group of local children were playing inside an old vacant building at Sakuntala colony when the structure
collapsed at around 5 PM, they said.

Jibon Das (12) died on the spot after he was trapped under the debris when the ceiling of the building collapsed.

Locals rushed to the spot immediately and launched a rescue operation. However, other children were not hurt.

The building is more than 50 years old and has been unoccupied for a long time. It was earlier used as a workshop

Spiritual leader’s grandson killed in Pak blast

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The grandson of a prominent spiritual leader was killed and 10 others were injured when a
bomb blast ripped through a religious gathering in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province today, police said.

The blast occurred as the motorcade of Sain Hussain Shah, the Pir of Qambar Sharif, arrived at the venue of a rally near Jacobabad in Sindh this afternoon.

Police official Ghulam Muhammad Brohi said the bomb, planted by the roadside, was triggered by remote control.

Shah’s grandson Shafiq Hussain Shah was killed in the attack.

Quetta attack: Pak’s Shias bury dead amid anti-govt slogans

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Four days after 89 people were killed in a deadly bomb attack in Quetta, a mass burial took place today for the Shia vicitms as mourners chanted anti-government slogans and demnded handing over of security of the restive southwestern city to the army.

The mass funeral in Quetta after days of nationwide protests was marred by an incident of firing involving
security personnel and protesters.

TDP MLA Jjoins Jagan party

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Sai Raj, TDP MLA of Ichapuram in Srikakulam district, on Wednesday joined the YSR Congress party in the presence of honorary president Y S Vijayamma at the party office.

It may be mentioned here that Sai Raj, the lone MLA of TDP in Srikakulam district, announced his intention to join the YSRCP stating that he got vexed with the ‘Ts politics.

Chinese official sentenced to 18 years for rape and graft

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A Chinese official has been sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of rape and graftin south China’s Guangdong Province.

According to Dongguan No.1 People’s Court, Huang Ping, former head of Humen Traffic Bureau, embezzled 980,000 yuan
(about USD 1,57,100), took bribes up to 2.15 million yuan and illegally appropriated national assets involving 410,000 yuan.

The corruption case came to light after police started investigating a rape case involving Huang, a report in the
official China.org.cn said.

Two children drown in well in AP village

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Two children today drowned in an agricultural well in the district, police said.

While their parents were engaged in work at a sugarcane field at Mogilipet village under Mallapur revenue
mandal of the district, Amol Shankar Jadhav (12) and Nitin Narayan Chauhan (7) entered an agricultural well in search of water and drowned, Mallapur sub-inspector Chittibabu said.

The bodies were later fished out and sent to the government hospital for autopsy, police added.

———–PTI

UK-India Business Council exploring opportunities in Bengal

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The UK-India Business Council is exploring business opportunities in West Bengal, state Finance minister Amit Mitra said here today.

The Council is working out how it can collaborate in West Bengal with business proposals in potential sectors,”
Mitra said after meeting with the CEO of the Council Richard Heald.

Eight areas including technical education, IT and setting up of an entertainment city were some of the issues of
discussion, Mitra said.

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Sanjay Wadvani accompanied Heald to the meeting at the state
secretariat.

TRS complaints to Home Minister against police

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TRS legislators called on Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum alleging harassment of the people in Mahabubnagar in connection with the proposed “sadak bandh” programme in the district.

The TRS legislators alleged that the police were binding over the local people in the town and also subjecting them to harassment. The Home Minister assured the TRS delegation that she would look into the matter and also discuss the issue with the Chief Minister regarding the proposed “sadak bandh” program.

Salman Khan expands web presence, joins Google+

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In an attempt to expand his online presence, Bollywood’s box office king Salman Khan joined Google+ Hangout Wednesday.

He is already a part of social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The actor has also embarked on a hunt for a fan, who will be the co-manager for his first official fan club on Google+, read a statement Wednesday.

The winner will be hand-picked on the same forum by him. The URL of official Google+ profile is https://plus.google.com/+BeingSalmanKhan.

Himachal set to take back land from Baba Ramdev

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Less than three years after the then ruling BJP gave Baba Ramdev a chunk of prime land on lease in Himachal Pradesh, the state government Wednesday initiated the process to take it back.

The development is significant as the Congress, then in the opposition, had accused the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP government of violating statutory provisions in extending favours to Baba Ramdev and Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan and enabling them to purchase land.

Shinde likely to talk to Swaraj over Hindu terror remark

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In the wake of BJP’s protests over his Hindu terror remark, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is likely to talk to senior party leader Sushma Swaraj to find a way out to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget Session beginning tomorrow.

Sources said Shinde has conveyed to Swaraj, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, that he will talk to her to find a way out on the saffron terror issue to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament.

Virat Kohli appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore

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IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore today appointed Virat Kohli as their captain for the upcoming sixth edition of Indian Premier League.

Kohli succeeds former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was at the helm during last season.

Kohli’s appointment follows a productive IPL VI auction in which RCB strengthened their bowling line-up significantly and added capable all-rounders to increase the amount of flexibility in the selection of the playing squad.

India, Israel to enhance dialogue and cooperation in area of counter terrorism

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India and Israel on Wednesday agreed to enhance dialogue and cooperation in the area of counter terrorism.

During the 8th meeting of India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter terrorism that was held here today, both sides exchanged perceptions of threats emanating from terrorism and emphasized their determination to fight the menace.

Minor among three killed, 5 injured in separate mishaps in Jammu

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Three persons, including a minor, were killed, and five persons were injured in separate mishaps, police said on Wednesday.

One unidentified middle-aged woman was crushed to death by a passenger bus at Satwari Chowk in the city this morning, police officials said, adding her body has been shifted to the GMC hospital.

In a separate incident, Rajan, a minor from Class I was killed by a speeding Army vehicle in Chowki Chora area of the district early today, they said, adding that his body has been handed over to the family after post-mortem.

Informal Working Group on Energy Security discusses new initiatives

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The Informal Working Group on Energy Security, which is a forum comprising officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), line energy ministries, Planning Commission and representatives of public sector enterprises, met here on Wednesday.

Secretary (Economic Relations), Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, chaired the meeting.

The meeting discussed several new initiatives undertaken by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with respect to energy issues. Energy Security is a high priority item on the agenda for interaction with foreign countries and entities.

Hope parliament runs smoothly: PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday hoped that parliament’s budget session beginning Thursday would run smoothly even as the BJP demanded an end to the row over Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s “saffron terror” remark.

“This session of parliament is going to transact important financial business before the house and it is our sincere hope that we will have a productive, constructive debate leading to agreed solutions to the many national problems that our country faces,” Manmohan Singh told reporters after an all-party meeting.

FBI urged to track hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus

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Several community organisations, including a South Asian coalition, have launched a signature drive to press lawmakers to ask the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu, and Arab Americans.

While the FBI has various categories to track hate crimes, crimes directed at these three communities are not currently tracked, according to the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

Hair dye chemicals linked to cancer

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Hair dyes, which include home hair colouring kits and those used at pricey salons, are linked to deadly cancer-causing chemicals, warn scientists.

Hair dye has previously been tied to tumours of the breast, bladder, ovaries, brain and leukaemia. Increasing numbers of users are becoming allergic to their contents, sometimes with fatal results.

Chemicals in permanent hair dyes can react with tobacco smoke and other pollutants to create one of the most powerful cancer-causing compounds, the journal Materials reports.

Woman shoots husband over no food and LPG refill

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A 20-year-old woman today allegedly shot her husband, leaving him seriously injured, over a petty domestic issue, police said here.

The incident took place near Khajrana dargah in the city.

Sonu alias Nazia had a quarrel with her husband Asif (27) over there being no food and LPG refill in their house for the last two days, Khajrana police station officer Prakash Chandra Dawar said.

Following the row, the woman pumped a bullet from a countrymade pistol in her husband’s head and locked the house
from inside.

DRDO says it has capability to produce VVIP choppers

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With the deal for procuring VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland facing the prospect of being scrapped, DRDO today said it has the capability to manufacture such helicopters even though it contended that producing anything entirely indigenously was impractical.

We have the capability to manufacture any system. We are manufacturing LCH (Light Compact Helicopter). We have already manufactured ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) and our own aircraft,” DRDO Chief V K Saraswat told PTI.

There is no dearth of capability and capacity of manufacturing any advanced technology system,” he said.

BJP leader fails to get US nod for Modi

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Bureaucrat-turned-politician K J Alphons, who tried to convince US lawmakers to revoke visa restrictions on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has failed to receive any firm commitment on the issue.

However, he exuded confidence that the US may change its stand soon.

A national executive member of the BJP, Alphons primarily came to the US to attend the Annual Prayer Breakfast with US President Barack Obama on February 7.

In addition to that he has been meeting Senators, Congressmen, officials and academicians, besides addressing
speaking at the prestigious Harvard University.

Arunachal CM announces one job to each member of household

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Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Wednesday said the government would provide at least one job to each member of a household, either in private, public sector or self-employment.

“We will target creation of one lakh new jobs during the five year period beginning from 2013 and create at least 25,000 such new opportunities during the current year. For skill development and capacity building, we have already set up Employment Generation and Skill Development Councils,” Tuki informed while addressing the people on 27th Statehood Day here this morning.

85-year-old man arrested for molesting minor girl

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An 85-year-old man was today arrested for allegedly molesting an eight-year-old girl here, police said.

Sitaram Bachate lured the girl with some money and sweets when she was playing outside her house at a slum colony in Kalwa town of Thane yesterday at around 3 PM, police said.

The accused took her to his house where he allegedly molested her, they said.

The girl later told her parents about the offence following which her father filed a complaint against Bachate.

Subsequently, Bachate was arrested.

BJP threatens to disrupt Budget session over Shinde remark

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In the wake of BJP’s protests over his Hindu terror remark, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde is likely to talk to senior party leader Sushma Swaraj to find a way out to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget session beginning on Thursday.

“The BJP wants an apology from home minister Sushilkumar Shinde over his Hindu terror remarks for smooth functioning of Parliament,” Sushma Swaraj said. Union ministers Kamal Nath and Shinde also held consultations with Sushma Swaraj to resolve stalemate over the Hindu terror remarks.