Month: May 2013

Shinde tells Chhattisgarh students not to join Naxal ranks

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Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday met students from Chhattisgarh”s Narayanpura District and advised them to avoid overtures from Naxals.

Shinde interacted with about 20 children from the Naxal-affected district.

He informed the children that the central government is introducing schemes that would benefit the youth in in Naxal-hit areas.

He said emphasis would be placed on providing proper education so that children could aspire for recruitment in the administrative and security services.

Bangladesh collapse death toll rises to 435

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The death toll from last week’s building collapse on the outskirts of Dhaka climbed to 435 with the recovery of about a dozen bodies Thursday as rescuers continued to search for the missing.

Nine days into the Bangladesh’s worst industrial tragedy, rescuers still believe there might have many more bodies in the wreckage of the collapsed building though they have no hopes of finding people alive.

Bowling with relaxed mindset has worked: Ishant Sharma

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Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ishant Sharma says that bowling with a relaxed mindset has worked for him in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“I have been going in with a relaxed mindset these days which is something that has worked for me in the IPL. I have been consistent throughout the tournament. My economy rate has been close to seven which I feel is fair enough to have in this format. I am pretty happy the way I am bowling,” Sharma told IPLT20.com.

Rajya Sabha takes up Finance Bill amid walkouts

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Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several other parties Thursday walked out of the Rajya Sabha after the Finance Bill 2013 was introduced, slamming the government for inefficiency.

As part of an agreement reached between the government and the opposition, the Finance Bill and demands for grants for various ministries, along with the railway bill and appropriation bill, were taken up by the Rajya Sabha Thursday afternoon.

The opposition had agreed to maintain peace in the house, and walked out after the bills were introduced.

Sexual Assaults: Hyderabad going Delhi way?

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The spate of sexual attacks against women continued in the State capital with four instances of rapes being reported on Wednesday. While a four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a minor boy in Miyapur, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her step father in Rajendranagar. The other two heinous crimes were reported from Kushaiguda and Alwal localities. In Kushaiguda, a daily wager was gang-raped and in Alwal a mentally challenged woman was sexually assaulted by one person, while another molested a hapless woman.

 

Time to wage war on Pakistan, says Sarabjit”s sister

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Dalbir Kaur, sister of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh who died in a Lahore hospital this morning after a murderous attack in jail last week, on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan for her brother”s death and called for a war against the country.

Chanting “Pakistan Murdabad”, Kaur said she was appealing to all parties to come together to give Pakistan an ”appropriate answer”.

Parliament adjourned till Friday as BJP, Left parties walk out over Chinese intrusion, Sarabjit death

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Both Houses of Parliament adjourned proceedings on Thursday after the opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties, walked out citing the failed foreign policy of the government and its inability to come clean on the 2G spectrum and coal block allocation issues.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley accused the government of having no clue about the Chinese intrusion into the Indian territory and of having reacted meekly in trying to get Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh back home for treatment.

Oxford creates more rich graduates than Cambridge: Study

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The rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge, two of Britain’s best-known universities, is legendary and now it seems Oxford has pipped its competitor by producing the wealthiest graduates.

According to research by global analysts Wealth-X, Oxford counts 401 ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals among its alumni population with a total net worth of USD 51 billion and each individual’s average net worth around USD 127 million.

Salman Khan expresses grief over Sarabjit’s death

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Bollywood star Salman Khan, who had launched an online petition asking for Sarabjit Singh’s freedom in 2012, Thursday mourned the death of the Indian death row prisoner in Pakistan.

“Freedom at last. Hope they give him to his family. We all tried, guess not hard enough. May god give his family strength and his soul rests in peace,” Salman posted on Twitter.

Last year, Salman had urged his fans and the public to join an online petition that he planned to give to the Pakistan government in a bid to free Sarabjit.

Sikh protests at 10 Janpath, Congress office

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On the second day of protests, Sikh groups shouted slogans Thursday outside Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s residence and the Congress office over the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

As many as 115 protesters were detained and later let off.

Burning effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sajjan Kumar, different Sikh groups gathered outside Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence.

Don’t blame us for Sarabjit’s death: Sibal

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India did whatever it could to help Sarabjit Singh, but Pakistan “failed to ensure” his safety, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal said Thursday.

“It was the responsibility of Pakistan to ensure his (Sarabjit Singh’s) safety in their jail and they have failed at it. We should not be blamed for it,” Sibal told reporters here.

“Our ministries must have taken all the necessary steps and must have done whatever they could because we are always ready to go to any length to ensure the safety of our citizens,” he added.

Sarabjit’s autopsy completed

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A six-member medical board has completed the autopsy of Sarabjit Singh, thean Indian death row prisoner who died Thursday following a savage assault in Kot Lakhpat jail here, a media report said.

The autopsy was performed at the Jinnah Hospital here where Sarabjit Singh was admitted a week ago after being savagely assaulted by two prisoners in jail, Geo News reported.

On Thursday, three more doctors were added to the three-member medical board that was to perform the autopsy.

Shabir Shah condemns attack on Sarabjit Singh

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Senior separatist leader and chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Shah Thursday condemned the brutal attack on Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani jail which resulted in his death.

Shah was addressing a media conference here. “Such an incident should not have taken place inside a jail,” he said.

“Pakistan should take action against the attackers so that such an incident is not repeated,” he said, while replying a question on Sarabjit Singh during the media conference.

BJP govt has looted Karnataka: Sonia

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi today charged the BJP Government in Karnataka with having “looted” the state and “incited” communal feelings.

On the second and final leg of her campaign for the May 5 Assembly polls in the state, she asked the BJP Government to account for the funds allotted by the Centre for various schemes.

“Where did the central funds go?’, she posed to the gathering and said the people had every right to ask the government to account for the money.

Scale down ties with Pakistan: BJP

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The BJP Thursday demanded that diplomatic ties with Pakistan be scaled down and the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan be asked to return after the death of Sarabjit Singh in Lahore.

“The level of diplomatic relations should be scaled down for the time being, and the Indian High Commissioner should be called back,” Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh said.

Talking to reporters here, Rajnath Singh said normalcy in bilateral ties should not be restored till Pakistan ensures the security of Indians in Pakistani jails.

3 killed in road accidents

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3 men died in different road accidents occurred at Langarhouz, PHB and SR Puram police station limits. According to Langarhouz police 60-year-old Mohammed Yousuf resident of MM Pahadi who was a labour by occupation, was passing by Bapunagar area last night when the accident occurred. He succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

According to PHB police 40 year old Shaikh Abdul Haq, resident of Lingampally, AC technician by occupation was passing by Pragatinagar on his motor cycle when the accident occurred. Shaikh Abdul Haq died on the spot.

I was lucky to play for India: Rahul Dravid

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Terming the Padma Bhushan award “an honour and privilege”, former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid Thursday said he felt lucky to have represented the country for 16 years.

“It is a great honour. When you start playing you don’t think about the awards. You just play because you just love it and there is no reason why you start playing this game.

“But along the way when you get awards and recognitions from the government of India, from the people of this country … it is a great privilege and honour,” said Dravid during a felicitation ceremony organised by Rupa and Company Ltd. here.

NASA invites public to send names and messages to Mars

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NASA is giving a golden opportunity for those who want to be a part of space exploration history.

The agency is inviting members of the public to submit their names and a personal message online for a DVD to be carried aboard a spacecraft that will study the Martian upper atmosphere.

Scheduled for launch in November, the DVD will be in NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. The DVD is part of the mission’s Going to Mars Campaign coordinated at the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (CU/LASP).

Girl allegedly harassed by police, political leaders, commits suicide

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Dejected over the alleged harassment by the police and local political leaders, a girl ended her life. It is said that 17-year-old Bhagyasri, resident of CC Nagar, Bansilalpet hanged herself to death at her house.

Sources told that Bhagyasri’s brother Kishore had run away with a minor girl on April 21. Gandhinagar police registered kidnapping case against Kishore and called his sister Bhagyasri to police station. It is said that local political leaders were constantly pressing Bhagyasri to reveal whereabouts of the kidnapped girl.

Ministers meet PCC Chief

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In a significant development, two senior ministers today met PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana in the back drop of dissent over Chief Minister launching welfare schemes unilaterally.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, Ministers K Jana Reddy, DL Ravindra Reddy and Vatti Vasantha Kumar were closeted with the state Congress President.

Damodar Rajanarsimha distanced himself from the official programme attended by Chef Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his home district Medak. He skipped the function and left for Colombo.

Kerala woman wins Rs 1 crore prize money

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For 38-year-old Sanuja Rajan, the wife of a porter, life has come full circle after enduring hardships all through her life, winning Rs 1 crore in a TV reality show in Kerala.

Rajan, an assistant at the Thiruvananthapuram Collector’s office, walked away with the prize money on reality show “Ningalkkumaakam Kodeeswaran” (NAK) aired on Asianet TV on Wednesday night.

The graduate answered all the 15 questions correctly and was the first person to win the prize money.

Hard work and zeal needed to excel in competitive exams

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Vice Chancellor Osmania University Prof. S Satyanarayana suggested that students should first try to solve those questions which are based on subjects over which they have command. Preparation of competitive exams should be done in an entirely different manner from the conventional course exams. To excel in competitive exams one needs hard work and zeal. He asserted.

Five killed as train rams into car

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Five persons of a marriage party were killed when a train engine rammed into a car at an unmanned railway crossing in Bihar’s East Champaran district, police said today.

Due to the impact of the collision, the car was dragged for over one kilometre on the railway track last night, the police said.

The marriage party was on way to Sikhandi village when the mishap took place near Sugauli.

While three persons died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital.

Train services resumed after the tracks were cleared.

—PTI

Two years on, Osama’s neighbours plead for privacy

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Two years after US commandos killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, his neighbours in Abbottabad are fed up with questions from the media and other people about the incident, saying they want to be left alone.

Bin Laden, who was for a long time hunted by the US, was killed in a coordinated aerial and ground assault by US Navy SEALS May 2, 2011.

Samiaullah, 19, one of Osama’s neighbours in Abbottabad, told Xinhua that he had been interviewed by hundreds of media persons and other people interested about the assault.

Very few people know about the sundial in Makkah Masjid

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Everyone knows that Makkah Masjid is one of the oldest masjids in Hyderabad and one of the biggest in India and it is a listed among heritage buildings. But there are some facts about the masjid which very few people are aware of. Do you know that Makkah Masjid has one of the oldest sundials of the world? Do you know that 3000 dovecotes were constructed over the roof of Makkah Masjid to provide shelter to pigeons? Do you know who was the ruler who fixed iron grills to stop pigeons from entering inside the Masjid?