Month: July 2013

UPA, CWC meet may discuss Telangana: Digvijay Singh

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AICC General Secretary Digivijay Singh on Monday gave clear indications that the UPA Coordination Committee and Congress Working Committees might discuss the Telangana issue during their meeting scheduled to be held here on Tuesday.

Talking to reporter here, Digvijay Singh said although he was not aware of the meetings’ agenda, he said a decision has to be taken on the Telangana issue by the CWC. With regard to UPA Panel’s meeting, he said since he was not a member of UPA Coordination Committee, he was not aware of its agenda.

Earthquakes may add to global warming

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Earthquakes may contribute to global warming by releasing methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, from the ocean floor, according to a new study.

An international team of scientists investigated the aftermath of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that took place in the Northern Arabian Sea in 1945.

They postulated that this event caused the release of about 7.4 million cubic meters methane, into the ocean. In 2007, during a research cruise off the coast of Pakistan, the scientists obtained several sediment cores.

NASA receives 402 ideas on how to deal with asteroid collision

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NASA has been flooded with more than 400 suggestions on how to find asteroids that are on a collision course with Earth.

Some suggestions were there to help relocate a small asteroid orbiting a moon for future study.

The ideas came in response to a June 18 solicitation intended to reach beyond the aerospace industry for partnerships on two asteroid exploration initiatives which are being planned.

The first project called ‘Grand Challenge,’ is to find potentially dangerous asteroids that come close to Earth.

FIPB gives conditional approval to Jet-Etihad deal

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Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) Monday cleared Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airlines buying 26 percent stake in Jet Airways for Rs 2,058 crore with some conditions.

FIPB cleared the deal with some riders, sources attending the FIPB meeting said.

The conditions include Jet seeking prior Government of India approval for any changes in the Share Holders Agreement (SHA) with Etihad. Also, any arbitration would have to be under Indian law and not English law as proposed in the revised SHA submitted by Jet-Etihad to FIPB.

Afghan government says it’s ready for April vote

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An Afghan official says the country’s security forces are prepared for the presidential election next April, though five districts remain gripped by insurgency.

The vote will be a key test of Afghanistan’s ability to smoothly transition power ahead of the pullout of foreign forces at the end of 2014.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi told reporters on Monday that plans have been prepared to secure 6,845 polling centers in all 34 provinces.

Pakistan condemns latest US drone strike

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Pakistan Monday strongly condemned the latest US drone strike in North Waziristan tribal region which killed at least six people.

The American spy aircraft fired missiles on a compound of suspected militants in Shawal area of North Waziristan, one of Pakistan’s seven tribal regions, late Sunday.

“These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the foreign ministry said.

A ministry statement said Pakistan had repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes.

New Zealand denies spying on US reporter in Afghanistan

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New Zealand’s acting defense force chief said Monday that there is no evidence the military unlawfully spied on a journalist in Afghanistan who was freelancing for US news organization McClatchy.

The statement came in response to a report in the Sunday Star-Times newspaper that the military collected phone metadata to spy on journalist Jon Stephenson, a New Zealander.

The story by journalist Nicky Hager said the military became unhappy at Stephenson’s reporting on how it treated Afghan prisoners.

Five dead, including child, in US helicopter crash

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A helicopter crash in a rugged, wooded area of Pennsylvania claimed the lives of five people, including one child, officials have said.

The crash happened on Saturday night after the pilot told air traffic controllers he was losing altitude, according to the county coroner.

Wyoming County coroner Thomas Kukuchka said the pilot contacted a nearby tower around 10:30 pm local time saying he would attempt to return to another airfield nearby.

Although the names of those on board have not been released, Kukuchka said three men, a woman and a child were on board.

Explosions rock Libya’s Benghazi, protesters take to streets

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Explosions rocked the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Sunday in what appeared to be attacks on judicial buildings, a security official said, sparking protests a day after more than 1,100 inmates escaped during a prison riot there.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Benghazi’s streets denouncing the latest violence, according to residents.

Thirteen people were slightly wounded in one of the blasts which targeted a court in the north of the city, said Interior Ministry spokesman Rami Kaal.

Israel, Palestinians dispute format of Washington peace talks

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Israeli and Palestinian officials put forward clashing formats for peace talks due to resume in Washington on Monday for the first time in nearly three years after intense US mediation.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to bring the negotiators together in the evening and on Tuesday to renew talks that broke down in 2010 over Israel’s settlement of occupied land where Palestinians seek a state.

Indian-Americans celebrate 100 years of Gadar movement in US

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Hailing the contribution of leaders of the Gadar movement in India’s freedom struggle, Indian-Americans from across the US have called for remembering their sacrifices annually on Memorial Day.

“The Indian-American community, at least on Memorial Day (the last Monday of May), should remember the sacrifices of Gadarites,” said California-based Inder Singh, chairman of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

Wave of car bombings target Iraqi Shi’ites, 60 dead

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Car bombs ripped through busy streets and markets in Iraq on Monday, killing at least 60 people in predominantly Shi’ite areas in some of the deadliest violence since Sunni insurgents stepped up attacks this year.

The 17 blasts, which appeared to be coordinated, were concentrated on towns and cities in Iraq’s mainly Shi’ite south, and districts of the capital where Shi’ites live.

Militant groups including al Qaeda have increased attacks in recent months in an insurgency against the Shi’ite-led government as a civil war in neighboring Syria heightens sectarian tensions.

MP says Rajya Sabha seats for sale

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Rajya Sabha member from Haryana and Congress leader Birender Singh made a startling disclosure Monday that certain people were spending Rs.100 crore to get into the upper house of parliament.

The Congress MP said that he knew not one but 20 people attempting to do this.

“Not one, but I will give you the names of 20 (such) people,” Singh said while addressing a gathering in in Yamunanagar town in Haryana Sunday.

Cut-offs damaging ethos of colleges: Tharoor

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Minister of State Shashi Tharoor, a product of St. Stephen’s College, Monday visited Delhi University and voiced concern over the steadily rising cut-off percentages for admissions.

This, he said, was damaging the “spirituality and ethos” of the colleges in the university, reputedly one of the best in the country.

“Cut-offs are something I am very worried about. I am not a fan of it. The cut-offs to select students have damaged the spirituality and ethos of colleges,” said Tharoor, who studied history in Delhi University.

BJP attacks UP government over IAS officer’s suspension

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The BJP Monday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the suspension of a woman IAS officer in Noida, alleging that the Akhilesh Yadav government took the step due to “vote bank” politics.

“A woman officer was suspended. Everybody is saying she was very honest. The reason was vote bank politics. She had prevented some illegal construction at a place of worship,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said addressing party workers here.

SC refuses to entertain PIL on food security ordinance

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The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL challenging the food security ordinance promulgated by the government three weeks ago.

A bench comprising justices T S Thakur and Vikramajit Sen declined to hear the PIL and asked the petitioner to approach the high court for redressal of his grievances.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by advocate M L Sharma alleging that the Centre has brought the ordinance for political purposes and the court should examine its validity.

Sharad Yadav takes on Mallya, says ‘corporates indulging in corrupt practices to enter Parliament’

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Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav on Monday launched a frontal attack on industrialist Vijay Mallya, and alleged that corporate giants were indulging in corrupt practices to find their way into Parliament. Yadav, who was reacting to the claims made by Congress leader Birender Singh that Rajya Sabha seats are sold for Rs. 100 crores, said he was not aware of the monetary value of a seat in the Upper House, but knew that corporate giants were indulging in corrupt practices to find their way into the Parliament. “I am not aware of what the rates are. However, it must not be generalized.

Admiral Gorshkov achieves key milestone in sea trials

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The long-delayed aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov achieved a significant milestone when it achieved its top speed of over 30 knots during sea trials in Russia last week.

The 44,500 tonne aircraft carrier rechristened INS Vikramaditya is undergoing extensive sea trials in Russia before its planned induction in to the Indian Navy by the end of this year.

After achieving its top speed, the warship will now move to the White Sea very soon where it will undergo aviation trials including the landing and take-off of fighter aircraft from its runway, Navy officials said.

30% MPs have criminal cases, says report

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About 30 percent of Lok Sabha MPs and 17 percent of Rajya Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, with Shiv Sena members topping the list, a report released on Monday said.

The joint report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW) was based on affidavits filed by candidates during elections since 2004.

A total of 8,790 affidavits filed by MPs and state legislators were analysed.

The report found that 162 (30 percent) of the 543 present Lok Sabha membres face “criminal cases” and 76 others (14 percent) “serious criminal cases”.

Indian investors seek engagement in Myanmar

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More and more foreign investors including those from India, Britain and the US are eyeing Myanmar’s offshore oil and gas exploration and production, the official media reported Monday.

According to the state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, about 300 new test wells have been set for drilling in the next five years for oil and gas exploration, reports Xinhua.

Myanmar has abundant natural gas resources especially in offshore areas.

Encircling India by string of pearls an illusion: Chinese scholar

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The development of a number of strategic ports in South Asia, like Gwadar in Pakistan, by China is not to contain India but to protect the country’s own “legitimate economic interests” in the Indian Ocean, a Chinese scholar has said.

“China’s existence in the Indian Ocean is a productive force that brings economic prosperity and strategic security. ‘Encircling India’ by ‘a string of pearls’ is an illusion fuelled by paranoia,” Hu Zhiyong wrote in an article ‘India wears unreal string of pearls’ published in state run ‘Global Times’ on Monday.

MEA gets interactive through smartphone app

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Now you can get help with your passport, visa, and if abroad, get consular assistance, or even ask questions to the external affairs minister – all on your smartphone with the ‘MEAIndia’ app.

The ‘MEAIndia’ application, being launched Monday evening by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, will help users find out the nearest Indian mission or post for emergency consular assistance, if required, and also find out how to undertake the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and Haj Pilgrimage, according to a ministry statement Monday.

India bag gold in World Youth Chess Olympiad

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Fantastic performance by Kolkata based Sayantan Das and Diptayan Ghosh enabled India to regain the gold medal at the World Youth Chess Olympiad, which concluded Monday at Chongqing, China.

India thrashed Iran 3.5-0.5 in the final round of the team event to win gold, after having started the Olympiad as second seed, according to information received here.

This is India’s third gold in this prestigious team event. India had won the event previously at Singapore in 2007 and in Turkey 2008.

Don’t file review petition on common test: Jayalalithaa

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa has expressed her government’s strong objection to the centre’s move to appeal against the apex court’s judgment quashing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh July 28, 2013, text of which was released to the media here Monday, the chief minister urged the centre to drop its move to file a review petition against the apex court’s decision.