Month: March 2013

BRICS concerned about threat of military action against Iran

by

Amidst US and Israeli warnings that they will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran, BRICS leaders today voiced their concern at the threat of military action against the Islamic Republic. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa leaders also expressed their “deep concern” at the the deteriorating situation in Syria besides stressing that Afghanistan needs a “clear end-state strategy to attain lasting peace and stability”. “We believe there is no alternative to a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

11 Holi revellers drown in Andhra Pradesh

by

At least 11 teenagers drowned during Holi revelry in Nizamabad district and at Kukatpally area here today, police said. A group of 15 boys went to the village tank to bath after Holi celebrations in Basant Cheruvu (village tank) in Sirikonda village of Nizamabad district late this afternoon, after which seven of them began drowning, a senior police officer at Armoor told PTI. Two of them were rescued by one of them even as five others drowned one after the another, he said.

“Minor girl tests HIV positive after blood transfusion”

by

An eight-year-old girl, suffering from thalassaemia, has been afflicted by HIV after blood transfusions at two government hospitals, including one here in Wayanad district, her relatives claimed today. In a complaint lodged with health department, they said the girl was being given blood transfusion every fortnight as she had been suffering from thalassaemia for the past six years. The transfusion was done at a government hospital here and the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Why is UPA silent on Pak-China friendship, asks BJP

by

Expressing concern over the growing proximity between China and Pakistan, BJP today said this endangers the peace and security of India and the region and sought to know why the government is silent on this issue.

BJP pointed out that China is constructing two nuclear power stations in Pakistan and maintained that its engagement with Pakistan is “laced” with suspicion.

Four orphanage staff held for molesting 34 minors in Nashik

by

Four employees of the Jay Anand Anaathashram, who were arrested on Monday for alleged molestation of 34 girls aged between six to 14, were produced in a local court yesterday, which remanded them to police custody until March 30, the police said here today.The Jay Anand Anaathashram, is an orphanage house run by the Jay Kalika Mata Education Trust.

After a written complaint by the girls, a child welfare committee team visited the orphanage and found that they were being molested. All the girls were sent to the Nashik Civil Hospital for a medical check-up, the police said.

US President Barack Obama appoints first female head of Secret Service

by

US President Barack Obama has appointed veteran agent Julia Pierson as the new Director of the Secret Service, making her the first female to head the elite commando unit responsible for the security of the first family. “Julia is eminently qualified to lead the agency that not only safeguards Americans at major events and secures our financial system, but also protects our leaders and our first families, including my own,” Obama said in a statement on Tuesday.

School watchman arrested for attempting to molest girl students

by

A 35-year-old watchman of a government school in Karaikal has been arrested on charges of attempting to molest two fourth standard girls. Kaliappan was arrested on Tuesday night.

He was produced before a local court on Wednesday which remanded him in 15-day judicial custody, police said. On Monday, Kaliappan had allegedly taken the two girls, who arrived little early in the morning, to the first floor of the school at Karaikalmedu and attempted to molest them.

Woman trying to sell off minor sister for prostitution arrested

by

A 24-year-old woman, along with her husband, was arrested from suburban Andheri for allegedly trying to sell her minor sister for prostitution, police said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Samina Darzi, and her husband Mohammed, walked into the trap set up by the members of a local NGO and were held on Tuesday while accepting an advance of Rs 50,000 towards the “deal’ to sell Samina’s 12-year-old sister for flesh trade, they said.

DCP’s wife says he shot himself accidentally

by

Days after DCP Sanjay Banerjee was reported to have killed himself while he was at a restaurant in Thane with his family, his wife Sushmita Banerjee has claimed that he “accidentally” shot himself.

“She has said that Banerjee had pulled out his personal pistol and was fidgeting with it when it accidentally went off,” said Thane Police Commissioner K P Raghuvanshi. Banerjee died of a gunshot wound to the head on Saturday.

UPA enjoys absolute majority; will complete term

by

Amid speculation that Samajwadi Party might withdraw support to the UPA, Union Minister V Narayanasamy today said the Congress-led coalition enjoys absolute majority in Parliament and would remain in office for its full five-year term.

SP and BSP had already given their letters of support to the UPA and the government has “therefore absolute majority to remain in office for its full five year term,” the minister of state in PMO said.

Murdered BSP leader’s wife, son quizzed

by

Delhi Police Wednesday said they have detained eight people and questioned around 20 others in connection with the murder of billionaire realtor and BSP leader Deepak Bhardwaj. Those quizzed include his wife and younger son.

The 62-year-old real estate tycoon was shot dead Tuesday by two unidentified men in his farmhouse here.

UAE president to visit Britain

by

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan has accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to pay a state visit to Britain.

Sheikh Khalifa will visit the country April 30-May 1.

The British embassy in Abu Dhabi said in statement that Britain and the UAE share a longstanding and unique history and the forthcoming visit will mark an important milestone in that history and will be testimony to the strength of the friendship at the very highest level.

The queen will host the UAE president at Windsor Castle and will hold a state luncheon in the president’s honour.

Abu Dhabi airport traffic grows by 13 percent

by

Passenger traffic at the Abu Dhabi International Airport grew by 13.1 percent in February, with traffic from India showing a growth of 9.1 percent.

The Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) said over 1.2 million passengers passed through the airport last month.

Aircraft movement in February also grew by 7.5 percent over the same period last year, totalling 9,960 movements, and cargo volume increased by 16.7 percent, reaching 50,020 tonnes.

India’s traffic was followed by Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

–IANS

Miley Cyrus’s solo holiday

by

Miley Cyrus cut a lonely figure when she was spotted sunbathing by herself, the week before she and Liam Hemsworth patched up their differences.

Miley, 20, spent most of her spell in the sun chatting seriously on the phone in Palm Desert, California, reports thesun.co.uk.
Dressed in a floral bandeau bikini, she looked glum.

It’s thought Miley had booked herself a holiday for one to clear her head in the aftermath of her break-up with Hemsworth.

—IANS

New crew to space station approved

by

The Russian state commission has approved the makeup of the main and back-up crews of a new expedition to the International Space Station. The mission will be launched Friday.

“The chief medical commission ruled that both the main and the backup crew members were fit for performing a space flight,” said Sergei Krikalyov, head of Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

The main crew comprises Russian cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin and Christopher Cassidy of NASA.

The backup crew lists Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky of Russia and Michael Hopkins.

Russia slams Arab League’s decision to arm Syrian rebels

by

The Arab League’s decision to allow its members to supply Syrian opposition forces with weapons has broken international laws, the Russian foreign ministry has said.

“As far as international law is concerned, the League’s decisions on Syria are illegal and baseless, because the government of the Syrian Arab Republic remains a legitimate representative of this UN member state,” the ministry said in a statement.

Medvedev invites opposition to speak

by

Opponents of Russia’s ruling United Russia party should be given an opportunity to express their views, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

“We could invite people who do not completely share our views, who are not party members,” Medvedev, who is also the chairman of United Russia, said during a lecture at Civil University.

The Civil University is the party’s new educational project for members.

“If these are people who criticise the party for some mistakes, tricks, lack of activism, for some issues or others, I believe that would only benefit us,” he said.

Russian submarine forces to get high-precision weapons

by

Russia plans to equip its submarine forces with long-range high-precision weapons, which will enhance their strategic deterrent capabilities, the defence minister said.

“There are plans to equip the submarine forces with long-range high-precision weapons. This will significantly enhance the possibility of using submarines as a strategic deterrent,” Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting at the Pacific Fleet’s submarine command headquarters.

Britney loves gorging on junk food!

by

It seems that Britney Spears, whose fluctuating weight has been the focus of attention for some years, loves to gorge on junk food.

Though her battle to stay trim hasn’t been helped by her insatiable appetite for fast food, reports thesun.co.uk.

Such is the pop star’s penchant for junk, she was caught on camera heading home with a huge bucket of KFC in a carrier bag. She was also seen having lolipop and ice cream.

Her calorific chicken and chips feast followed news of the singe”s cover shoot for Shape magazine.

India is committed to supporting Africa: Manmohan Singh

by

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said India remained committed to supporting Africa’s rise and would continue to assist and work with the vast continent, as its 54 countries develop their institutions and build infrastructure.

“India’s relations with Africa are rooted in history of our solidarity against colonialism and apartheid,” the prime minister said at the Africa Dialogue Forum, which was an important side event at the BRICS Summit here.

In fact, the theme of the fifth summit was: ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation’.

Eight killed during Holi celebrations

by

Eight people were killed in four separate incidents during Holi celebrations in Andhra Pradesh Wednesday, police said.

Five youths drowned in a lake in Nizamabad district. Police said they drowned in Basant Lake in Srikonda while taking bath. The bodies were retrieved and taken to a hospital in Armoor town for autopsy.

A youth drowned in a well in IDL area in Kukatpally here. Police said he had gone to the well to take a bath after celebrating Holi.

Brig. Ali hails SSAF on completing a decade of fruitful service

by

(Pervez Bari): In India there are two Taj Mahals, one is there at Agra & the other being at Aligarh. The one at Agra was built by Moghul emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife and the one at Aligarh was built by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to improve the educational backwardness of the Muslim community, while the former one is the symbol of past and latter one is the insignia of our future.

AP State bandh on April 9

by

The Left Parties have called for a statewide bandh on April 9 to protest against the hike in power charges.

This is the second phase of our agitation against the power hike and acute power crisis, the leaders said. As a prelude to there will dharnas on April 1 at all mandal and disctrict headquarters.

The left parties had today called off the four day hunger strike. (INN)

TRS finalises bus yatra plan

by

TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday held meeting with the party leaders at Telangana Bhavan here.

The meeting was held to finalise the bus yatra Nagara Bata and other programmes to keep the pressure of Telangana. The TRS had unsuccessfully moved Adjournment Motions in the Assembly seeking a discussion on the Telangana issue. However, the first phase of the budget session concluded without any discussion on the Telangana issue. (INN)