Month: February 2013

Court orders Saudi man to remain in jail until mother forgives him

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Manama, Feb. 27 (ANI): A court in Saudi Arabia has ruled that a man will remain in jail until his old mother whom he had physically assaulted forgives him. According to the court in Jeddah, the prisoner will also be given 200 lashes for abusing his mother and breaking her arm, reports Gulf News. According to reports, the mother approached the police, saying that her son had beaten her up several times and that he had broken her arm. She also presented a medical certificate supporting her claims.

Obama urges Morsi on democratic transition in Egypt

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Washington, Feb. 27 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to reaffirm the US” strong commitment to the Egyptian people as they continue their transition to democracy, according to the White House. The White House said in a statement that Obama, during a meeting with the Egyptian President, encouraged him, and all political groups within Egypt, to work to build consensus and advance the political transition, reports Politico.

Majority of Americans feel Republicans ”out of touch” with country

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Washington, Feb. 27 (ANI): A majority of Americans think that the Republican Party is out of touch with the country, according to a new poll. According to a Pew Research Center poll, 62 percent of adults say the GOP is out of touch with the American people, 56 percent say it”s not open to change and 52 percent say it”s too extreme, reports Politico. Forty-six percent of adults say the Democratic Party is out of touch with the American people, 38 percent of people say it”s not open to change and 39 percent say it”s too extreme.

Life in Iraq 10 years on not as I hoped: Tony Blair

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London, Feb. 27 (ANI): Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said life in Iraq in the present times is not what he hoped it would be when he opted to invade 10 years ago. Blair said there had been “significant improvements” but that “it is not nearly what it should be”, pointing in particular to on-going terror attacks, reports the BBC. However, he insisted that the situation under Saddam Hussein was far worse. And he said although the world was not safer than 10 years ago, it was safer than it would be if he had remained.

Pak refugee Fawad Ahmed”s citizenship being fast-tracked to solve Oz spin crisis

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Sydney, Feb 27 (ANI): The answer to Australia”s worrisome spin crisis and Ashes hopes depends on Federal Immigration Minister Brendan O”Connor, with Pakistani refugee spinner Fawad Ahmed on the threshold of a fast-tracked baggy green. Classy leg-spinner Ahmed has burst to prominence with brilliant performances for Victoria this season while the push from cricket greats and influential supporters to hand the leg-spinner a passport is in overdrive, News.com.au reports.

”In form” Ronaldo eyeing Man U CL scalp after his double sinks Barca at Nou Camp

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London, Feb 27 (ANI): Real Madrid”s ace forward Cristiano Ronaldo has sent an alarming Champions League warning to former club Manchester United after his brace sunk rivals Barcelona in the second leg of Copa Del Ray semifinal at Nou Camp on Tuesday. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and his No 2 Mike Phelan were in the stands, watching their former prodigy single-handedly destroying the Catalan giants, the Sun reports.

83% Malaysian Muslims say use of ”Allah” exclusive to them

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Kuala Lumpur, Feb 27 (ANI): Eighty-three per cent of Muslims interviewed in a recent poll agree that the practice of the word Allah is their absolute right, a survey here found. The results were part of the poll titled ”Public Opinion Survey No. 1/2013 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Survey”, which was conducted between Jan 23 and Feb 6, the Star reports. A total of 1,021 registered voters were interviewed via telephone for the survey, which was aimed at gauging voters” perceptions of issues in the lead-up to the general election, the paper reported.

Prime Minister approves changes in Indian civil services exam pattern

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New Delhi, Feb. 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday approved the new format for the Civil Services exams, which will give more weightage to general studies.

The decision came in on the recommendation of a Committee constituted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the examination annually.

At present, the civil services (main) examination has general studies Paper I and II of 300 marks each, including compulsory and optional subjects, but as per the new changes, both the general studies papers will have more weightage.

Economic survey reveals government is likely to meet fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent

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New Delhi, Feb. 27 (ANI): The economic survey released by the government on Wednesday, a day prior to the announcement of General Budget proposal for the fiscal year 2013-14 reveals that government is likely to meet fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent despite a significant shortfall in revenue.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India, told the reporters here that he is hopeful that the stock market would respond positively to the estimates.

Hyderabad blasts: Court asks for two Delhi prisoners

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A Delhi court directed the Tihar Jail authoerities to present before it Thursday two jailed operatives of the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. The order Wednesday came on an NIA plea for questioning the two for the Feb 21 Hyderabad twin blasts.

District Judge I.S. Mehta issued the fresh warrants for Syed Maqbool and Imran Khan after they were not presented before him by the Tihar Jail authorities Wednesday.

The two have been in judicial custody after police arrested them for the August 2012 Pune blasts.

Fire at market place in Old Delhi

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A fire erupted at a market place in Sadar Bazar in the capital, but no causalities have been reported so far.

The fire reportedly broke out on the first floor of a building in Sadar Bazar. Twenty-five fire engines have been rushed to douse the blaze.

–PTI

Hyderabadi held in Jammu,passport seized

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The police detained one Salauddin, who belongs to the Old City of Hyderabad, here on Wednesday in connection with the bomb blasts occurred in Dilsukhnagar in Andhra Pradesh.

The police arrested him at Rambus area in the border State.

It is learnt the police also seized some SIM cards, which belonged to Andhra Pradesh from Salauddin. The police have also identified that Salauddin was absconding from January 23 from Hyderabad. The police were searching him thoroughly following Dilsukhagar bomb blasts.

Digvijay Singh bereaved

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Asha Singh, wife of senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, today breathed her last at a hospital here after battling cancer for several years.

She was 58 and died around 7 PM at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Vasant Kunj, where she was admitted a few days ago.

Doctors at the hospital said Asha suffered from advanced malignancy (advanced form of cancer) when she was brought to
the institute.

She breathed her last in the hospital around 7 PM. Her family including Digvijay Singh was present when she passed
away,” a senior doctor said.

Ashraf asks opposition party to propose caretaker PM names

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Ahead of the general elections, Pakistan Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf today asked the main opposition party PML-N to propose names of two “eminently qualified” persons for appointment as caretaker Prime Minister.

The current Pakistan Peoples Party-led government will complete its term on March 17 and a caretaker setup will be
installed to supervise parliamentary elections to be held in two months.

Under the constitutional provisions the government and the main opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-N will nominate a consensus caretaker Prime Minister.

114-year-old Japanese confirmed as world’s oldest woman

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A 114-year-old Japanese woman from Osaka has officially been named as the world’s oldest woman by Guinness World Records.

According to the Gerontology Research Institute, which verifies age information for Guinness, Misao Okawa was born on March 5, 1898, the Telegraph reported.

Okawa, who will be celebrating her 115th birthday next week, said that she was “very happy” to receive the recognition and a certificate from Guinness.

When Okawa, who lives in a nursing home, was asked for her secret for longevity, she said it was to “watch out for one’s health.”

MoS Railways promises action on death of woman thrown out of train in UP

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Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday promised to initiate strong action against those responsible for allegedly throwing a woman out of Shatabdi Express in Muzaffarnagar.

“If such an incident has taken place then it is injustice. And I promise you that strong action will be taken action against those behind it. I have not received full details about the incident as of now,” said Chowdhury, while describing the incident to be extremely unfortunate.

CBI registers 24 Internet financial fraud cases in last 3 yrs

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The CBI has registered 24 cases pertaining to financial frauds under provisions of Information Technology Act 2000 along with other acts in the last three calendar years involving a cumulative amount of around Rs 47 crore, Parliament was informed today.

Telecom and IT Minister Kapil Sibal said Central Bureau of Investigation registered 6 cases in 2010 involving amount of Rs 6,42,26,487, 10 cases in 2011 involving Rs 12,43,42,694 and 8 cases in 2012 involving Rs 28,79,82,588.
“The trend in increase in cyber incidents is similar to that worldwide,” Sibal said.

Boy meets with watery grave in city

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A Class X boy met with his watery grave in Jubilee Hills on Wednesday.

According to the information, Mallesh of Yusufguda village near Jubilee Hills, accompanied by three friends, went for a swim in a water pool on Road No. 25 in Jubilee Hills on Wednesday morning.

As the pit dug for a building construction purpose was very deep, Mallesh could not come out after diving into it. Despite best efforts of his friends to fish him out, the boy met with his watery grave as he did not know swimming.
Police said they would take action against those who dug the pit.

–Agencies

India should take proactive steps on issues concerning Lankan Tamils: Venkaiah Naidu

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Expressing disappointment over the government’s approach towards the issues concerning Sri Lankan Tamils, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday urged India to play a proactive role and raise this issue before the international community.

Referring to the remark made by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in the Rajya Sabha today, expressing keenness towards the national reconciliation process initiated by the Sri Lankan Government, Naidu said the BJP is not satisfied with the steps earlier by the Indian Government.

Shankar Rao discharged from hospital

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Former minister and Secunderabad Cantonment MLA Dr P Shanker Rao, who was undergoing treatment for several days, has been discharged from the Banjara Hills Care Hospital here on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that Dr Shanker Rao has been undergoing treatment following his arrest by the Malkajgiri police in connection with the Greenfield Lands issue. He reportedly developed health problems when the police took him into custody from his home and shifted him to Malkajgiri Police Station.

83% Malaysian Muslims say use of ”Allah” exclusive to them

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Eighty-three per cent of Muslims interviewed in a recent poll agree that the practice of the word Allah is their absolute right, a survey here found. The results were part of the poll titled ”Public Opinion Survey No. 1/2013 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Survey”, which was conducted between Jan 23 and Feb 6, the Star reports. A total of 1,021 registered voters were interviewed via telephone for the survey, which was aimed at gauging voters” perceptions of issues in the lead-up to the general election, the paper reported.

Thackeray attack: MNS workers go on rampage

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Tension triggered by yesterday’s stone-pelting incident targeting Raj Thackeray’s convoy escalated today with MNS workers and supporters vandalising NCP offices in several parts of Mumbai and adjoining Thane.

Police lodged two FIRs against MNS activists, arrested six of them and registered some non-cognizable offences in
several parts of the metropolis, officials said.

NCP, a coalition partner in the Congress-led government in the state, has denied that its workers were

Court permits CBI to file another charge-sheet against Jagan

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CBI Special Judge’s Court at Nampally on Wednesday granted permission to the CBI prosecutors to file another charge-sheet with further allegations against YSRCP president and Kadapah MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy and other accused, who were allegedly involved in the illegal assets cases.

The court extended the remand of all the accused to March 13. The minister Dharmana Prasada Rao appeared before the court.

–Agencies

Hyd blasts: Production warrants issued against 2 IM operatives

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A Delhi court today issued fresh production warrants for tomorrow against two suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives whose custody was sought by the NIA for interrogation in connection with the twin blasts in Hyderabad that claimed 16 lives.

District judge I S Mehta issued the fresh production warrants against Syed Maqbool and Imran Khan after they were not produced before him by the jail authorities.

–Agencies

Prime Minister approves changes in Indian civil services exam pattern

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday approved the new format for the Civil Services exams, which will give more weightage to general studies.

The decision came in on the recommendation of a Committee constituted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the examination annually.

At present, the civil services (main) examination has general studies Paper I and II of 300 marks each, including compulsory and optional subjects, but as per the new changes, both the general studies papers will have more weightage.