Month: May 2013

UN adds Syrian militants Al Nusra to sanctions list

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The UN Security Council today added Syrian militant group Al Nusra Front to its global sanctions list because of its links to al-Qaeda.

The group, a feared force battling President Bashar al-Assad, is now subject to an international asset freeze and
arms embargo, according to an announcement made by the Security Council’s Al-Qaeda sanctions committee.

France and Britain jointly sought Al-Nusra’s designation after blocking a demand by the Syrian government.

Al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani last month pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri,

Siddharth Trivedi was asked to spot fix in 2012 IPL

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Rajasthan Royals cricketer Siddharth Trivedi, who is a prosecution witness in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot fixing scandal, was asked by several bookies to spot fix matches, a police officer said.

Trivedi, 30, a right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, revealed the information during his questioning by Delhi Police.

Trivedi, who had played for Gujarat in Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, was questioned by Delhi Police Thursday.

More than 150 new abuse allegations at BBC

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The BBC says 152 new sex abuse allegations have been made since the Jimmy Savile scandal erupted last fall.

The broadcaster said today the allegations have been made against 81 current and former staff members and contributors, including some who have died.

It said that 25 cases of suspected abuse involving current staff members or contributors have been reported to police for investigation.

Reports of widespread abuse by Savile during his long years with the BBC have led to several investigations that
have embarrassed the broadcaster.

TN Crime Branch-CID raids two hotels of Aggarwal

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The Crime Branch-CID of Tamil Nadu police today conducted raids at two hotels of city-based hotelier Vikram Aggarwal in connection with the ongoing IPL betting probe.

Searches were held at Aggarwal’s Radisson Blu and Fortune Palm hotels here on court directive, CB-CID officials said on condition of anonymity.

With Aggarwal appearing before Mumbai Crime branch today, the CB-CID’s future course of action will depend accordingly,they said.

HC judges, lawyers bid adieu to Chief Justice Murugesan

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Judges and lawyers of Delhi High Court Friday bid adieu to Chief Justice D. Murugesan, who will retire June 8 after serving as a judge for more than 13 years.

During a full court reference, Justice Murugesan said in his farewell speech: “I firmly believe that we live in a world in which values like kindness and compassion are essential, which I kept always in my mind while discharging my duties.”

“I also firmly believe that the greatest strength of the judiciary is the faith of the people in it. On my part, I had lived up to the expectation of a person to be a judge.”

2 cattle thieves arrested

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Two persons wanted in a shootout with a police party during a failed cattle theft bid in January has been arrested from Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal, police said today.

Mehtab (28) and Shehnab (22), who had a reward of Rs 25,000 on them, along with their other gang members had stolen cattle from Rohini on the intervening night of 15-16 January.

When police teams chased them, the gang fired on them and crushed PCR vans. Two PCR officials were injured during the incident.

Man held for posting objectionable photos on Facebook

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A 22-year-old-man was arrested by Odisha Police Friday for allegedly posting on the web objectionable photographs of a girl with whom he developed an online friendship on social networking site Facebook, an official said.

Susanta Kumar Mishra, a resident of Cuttack, about 25 km from here, allegedly posted the personal photographs of the girl along with vulgar comments on a Facebook account, an official of the cyber crime cell of Odisha Police told IANS.

Police started an investigation after the girl lodged a complaint Thursday.

–IANS

ED freezes Rs 34 cr in FDs of Jagan media firm

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today froze fixed deposits worth more than Rs 34 crore of a media firm owned by jailed YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy in connection with the money laundering probe against him and others.

With this fourth attachment order, the agency has attached more than Rs 300 crore worth of assets and properties
belonging to Jagan and others in the disproportionate assets case being probed jointly by the ED and CBI.

British town gets its first Sikh mayor

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A Sikh man has for the first time become the mayor of the town of Warwick in England’s West Midlands region.

Prabhjit Singh Dhillon, who has been elected the 280th mayor of Warwick, described it as a “privilege”, the Coventry Telegraph reported Friday.

“I have become the 280th mayor, a privilege for a local Warwick boy and first Sikh since that time,” Dhillon, a former local schoolboy, was quoted as saying.

“My mayoral year is a mere blip in the last 1,100 years of former mayors in this historic town.”

Sushma Swaraj slams PM’s statement, praises NDA’s performance

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Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his “half-empty” glass remark about the economy, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said here today that it was not because of the NDA, but due to rampant
corruption of the UPA government.

“During NDA rule, the economy was growing and the country had enough foreign reserves. However, due to rampant
corruption by UPA ministers who had filled their pockets, the glass is bound to get half-empty,” she said.

Swaraj arrived in the city to address a meeting on “election booth management” organised by the ruling BJP in

Centre issuing threats of engaging CBI against WB govt: Mamata

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the Centre of issuing threats of engaging CBI against the state government since Trinamool Congress quit the UPA on the issue of FDI in retail.

“They (Centre) are threatening us with CBI. There is no use of intimidating or threatening us. We had quit UPA on the single issue of FDI in retail. We will continue to oppose it,” Banerjee told a rally for the June 2 Howrah Lok Sabha bypoll here.

Small plane crashes into US apartment building

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Police say two people were taken to a hospital after a two-seat plane crashed into the living room of a third-story apartment outside Washington.

Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says the plane crashed into the roof of the apartment building in Herndon, Virginia, early today after it had electrical problems and its engine cut off.

Geller says the men were taking infrared photographs for an aerial photography company when they ran low on fuel.

Geller says the pilot was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. A woman who was in the apartment was taken

Centre ‘misusing’ IB for political gains: BJP

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Against the backdrop of CBI issuing summons to a senior IB official over the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, BJP on Friday accused the Centre of misusing the intelligence agency for “political gains”, saying it could hurt national security.

“BJP has cautioned repeatedly that under the Congress-led UPA, the misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation is rampant. We fear the Intelligence Bureau too is being misused by the UPA government,” party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here.

Anam Happy Over PC Praise For State

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Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has said the Planning Commission’s praise for the State government’s policies in the implementation of the State Annual Plan was a good development.
The Finance Minister said the Planning Commission’s praise for Andhra Pradesh in providing legality to the SC, ST Sub-Plans, was laudable. He pointed out that the State, which was at the 29th place in the country in poverty eradication, climbed up to 21st place.

Jupudi Doubtful About Babu’s Mental Condition

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YSR Congress official spokesperson Jupudi Prabhakara Rao expressed serious doubts about the mental condition of the TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu.
Talking to the media here on Friday, he said it would be better if his family members or friends took Naidu abroad and get him undergo medical tests.

Climatic Changes Creating New Health Problems

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The Changes in the climatic conditions new health problems, changes in lifestyle, joint pains especially for the employed people in various sectors to bring an end to all these issues Himagiri Hospitals has tied up with the Global Hospital to treatment various health problems especially Bariatric surgery, Knee replacement and various other surgery’s with the help of experienced doctors.

CM’s City Tour Today

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The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will reach the Indira Priyadarshini Stadium, Public Gandens, Nampally at 10 am on Saturday, and launch the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme for LPG consumers. He will then reach the Botanical Gardens Junction, Kondapur at 11.20 am and lay foundation stone for Road widening works from Botanical Gardens to Old Bombay High Way via Masjid Banda Village.

Dec 16 gangrape case: Cop identifies three accused

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A woman police officer and a prime witness, who had arrested the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape accused, Friday identified three of them in a fast-track court.

The investigating officer (IO), the last prosecution witness in the case, identified Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh, whom she had arrested within hours after the crime.

Yanamala Questions Ahluwalia’s Pat For Kiran

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TDP senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has alleged that it was ridiculous on the part of Planning Commission vice-president Mantek Singh Ahluwalia for praising the State government, which was neck-deep in corruption and halted the development and welfare.

AGP to launch anti-Congress campaign on June 3

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Assam’s regional political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will launch a state-wide campaign against the ruling Congress from June 3, a senior AGP leader said Friday.

“We are launching an anti-Tarun Gogoi campaign across the state from June 3,” AGP president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told reporters at a press conference here.

He also asked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to apologize to the people of Assam for their comments against the AGP.

Diesel price hiked by 50 paise a litre, petrol by 75 paise

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Oil companies on Thursday hiked the price of petrol by 75 paise per litre, without taxes. The price of diesel was also raised by 50 paise.

The hike comes after the highest cut in the price of petrol in over five years by Rs.3, a month ago.

The fall in rupee against the US dollar, puts pressure on oil companies that buy crude in the American currency.

The rupee on Friday closed at 56.4950 against Thursday’s close of 56.38/39. It had earlier hit 56.76, its lowest since June 28, 2012, to the dollar on Friday.

Singapore delegation visits UP

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A government-cum-business delegation from Singapore Friday visited the Uttar Pradesh capital and evinced interest in investment opportunities.

The team showed interest in upcoming infrastructure projects, the proposed IT city in Lucknow, the trans-Ganga project near Kanpur, solid waste management, solar power, road and the proposed Greater Noida Night Safari.

The team held detailed discussions with officials about the investment avenues available for Singaporean companies in Uttar Pradesh.

–IANS