Month: July 2013

Seven killed in Syrian helicopter attack

by

Seven Syrian state employees were killed Sunday when rebels downed their helicopter in Aleppo city, Xinhua reported.

The employees, who worked for the ministry of education, were carrying exam papers to secondary school students who have missed the exams due to the situation in their rebels-besieged areas of Nubbul and Zaharaa in northern Aleppo, the report said.

Separately in Aleppo, the Syrian troops regained full control over “strategic” positions in the Siaf al-Dawla and Zbaidieh districts, according to a pro-government radio.

14 killed in Iraq attacks

by

At least 14 people, including teenagers, were killed and 26 injured in separate attacks in Iraq Sunday, the interior ministry and police sources said.

Ten people were killed and 24 suffered injuries when an improvised explosive device went off near a football field in Baghdad’s Nahrawan district, reported Xinhua citing an interior ministry source who sought anonymity.

Many of the casualties were teenagers who had been playing football in the field, the source said.

UAE, Pakistan sign agreement on transferring convicts

by

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan have signed an agreement on transferring convicted individuals between them.

The agreement, signed at the UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs, facilitates the re-patriation of convicted individuals as it gives them the chance to spend their prison terms in their home countries.

–IANS

Kremlin not to decide US whistleblower’s future: official

by

With the US whistleblower Edward Snowden staying at an international airport of Moscow for a week, the Kremlin said Sunday his future was not yet on its agenda.

“The president (Vladimir Putin) said he is not dealing with this issue and prefers that corresponding services do this job. Thus, the subject is not on the agenda of the Kremlin,” reported Xinhua citing presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on local radio station.

Putin said, on a visit to Finland earlier, that Snowden did not cross the border into Russia, the spokesperson said.

S.A. Murtuza Rizvi Collector of Hyderabad transferred

by

Mr. Syed Ali Murtuza Rizvi, IAS Collector of Hyderabad has been transferred and posted as Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Corporation Limited in the Department of Energy. Mr. Mukesh Kumar Meena, IAS Vice Chairman and MD of AP Mining Corporation has been posted as the new Collector of Hyderabad District.

——Siasat News

Mahesh Bhagwat DCP promoted as IG

by

Mr. Mahesh Murlidhar Bhagwat, DCP has been promoted as Inspector General of Police and retained in the same post. State Govt. promoted 5 DCP’s as Inspector General’s of Police and posted them in various places.

——Siasat News

Prithvi missiles to be replaced by more-capable Prahar: DRDO

by

Seeking to enhance its precision strike capabilities, India is planning to replace its 150 km-range Prithvi ballistic missiles with the newly developed quick reaction Prahar missiles.

“We are withdrawing the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missiles and will replace them with the Prahar missiles, which are more capable and have more accuracy,” DRDO chief Avinash Chander told PTI here.

The tactical versions of the Prithvi missiles would be withdrawn from service and will be upgraded to be used for longer ranges, he said.

‘Tayyab Ali’ will be a hit among youngsters: Imran Khan

by

Actor Imran Khan feels the classic qawali number ‘Tayyab Ali’, which has been recreated in his upcoming film “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara”, will be popular among youngsters.

The makers of “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara” bought the official rights of the song ‘Tayyab Ali Pyaar Ka Dushman’ from Manmohan Desai, who directed and produced 1977 film “Amar Akbar Anthony”.

Imran and his co-star Sonakshi Sinha have recreated the magic of the evergreen song, which was originally picturised on Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, in “Amar Akbar Anthony”.

Sharif to send Pak Power Min to India to tackle energy crisis

by

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed his Water and Power Minister to India to address the severe energy crisis facing the country.

“We are facing acute electricity shortage and any assistance in the power sector will help us in addressing the problem,” Sharif said while speaking to members of the Pak-India Joint Business Council at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.

Kalmadi set for tough battle in AAA elections

by

Eyeing a fourth term as the Asian Athletics Association’s President, scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi is in for a tough fight as he takes on Qatar’s Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad in the elections of the continental body, which meets here for a crucial two-day Congress starting tomorrow.

Kalmadi, who is out on bail after spending 10 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games scam, will preside over the Congress and seek a re-election.

Urdu exams of Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust

by

Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust conducted Urdu Daani, Zaban Dani and Insha examinations for the beginners who are learning Urdu. The most surprising think was that many non-Urdu knowing persons wrote this examination which indicates the future of Urdu is bright. This examination was conducted in 72 centers in which 7827 candidates took the examinations.

Taj Mahal ranked third among top landmarks in the world

by

Travellers from across the globe have ranked India’s Taj Mahal among the top three landmarks in the world, a leading travel website has announced.

According to TripAdvisor’s 2013 Travellers Choice Attractions Awards, Taj Mahal was ranked third in the list of Top 25 landmarks. The top two places were taken by Machu Picchu in Peru and Angkor Wat in Cambodia respectively.

“The winners of Travellers’ Choice Attractions awards were determined based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews of attractions,” said a company statement.

NCP opposes MNS demand to name freeway after Bal Thackeray

by

NCP has taken a strong objection to the demand made by MNS to name the recently-inaugurated Eastern Freeway in Mumbai after Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray.

In a statement, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said he has already written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that majority of the local people were dislocated due to the project belonged to the backward classes and Dalit community.

Businessman, wife shot at; robbed by armed assailants

by

A businessman and his wife were shot at outside their house by four unidentified assailants when the couple resisted a robbery attempt in Kavinagar area here, police said today.

The incident happened when Anuj Garg was returning from shop late on Saturday night when the incident occurred.

“When Anuj was getting out of his car, the four armed assailants who arrived in a car held him at gunpoint and asked him to hand over his bag containing over Rs one lakh,” a senior police officer said.

VHP criticises JK govt over AFSPA

by

By opposing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) the Jammu and Kashmir government is helping the militancy to grow in the state, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) today alleged.

“Jammu and Kashmir government’s stand against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and its support for autonomy has helped the militancy to grow in the state,” VHP international general secretary, Champat Rai, said here today.

Rai was also critical of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s stand on the autonomy and said that it has to go at any cost.

Obama ‘deeply humbled’ by Mandela prison visit

by

US President Barack Obama said he was “deeply humbled” by a visit today to the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela spent some of his darkest days in jail.

“On behalf of our family we’re deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield,” Obama wrote in a message in the visitors book co-signed by his wife Michelle.

“The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit.

Telangana-announcement in one week-Shabbeer

by

Senior Congress leader and former Minister, Mr. Mohd Ali Shabbeer expressed his hope that Ms. Sonia Gandhi might declare separate Telangana within a week. Mr. Shabbeer was addressing a large gathering at Nizam college yesterday. He further told that Congress party is bound by its promise. Ms. Sonia Gandhi has also promise to give Telangana. Congress is serious on this issue and it will fulfill the aspirations of the people of Telangana.

—Siasat News

Iran confirms arrest of Slovak paragliders

by

Iran today confirmed the arrest of several Slovaks two days after Bratislava announced that a group of paragliders had been apprehended, reportedly accused of espionage.

Tehran did not confirm how many Slovaks had been detained, but Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said eight Slovaks were under arrest in Iran.

“They came to Iran as tourists but behaved inappropriately and had unconventional devices in their possession,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi told ISNA news agency.

Azam has grabbed Waqf land, alleges Cong MLA

by

Congress legislator Nawab Kazim Ali Khan has alleged that Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan has grabbed ‘enemy property’ for his private trust in Rampur, an accusation denied by the SP leader.

“There is around 450 bigha land of enemy property which Azam wants to include in Maulana Ali Jauhar University, run by his trust. In fact it is already within the premises of the university,” Ali, an MLA from Swar Tanda constituency in Rampur, alleged.

Woman arrested for stealing

by

A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing valuables from the purse of a passenger when she was boarding a train at the Hazart Nizamuddin Railway station, police said today.

Meena and a resident of Nangloi, was arrested yesterday when she tried to steal valuables after opening the purse of Archana Sudesh, a resident of Maharashtra, who was boarding Karnataka Sampark Kranti train, said Rajan Bhagat, Additional DCP Crime and Railways.

She was nabbed by two constables who were patrolling the platform.

Cong minority cell to appeal in SC to reschedule panchayat

by

The minority cell of state Congress is contemplating to appeal in the Supreme Court to reschedule panchayat polls in West Bengal in view of the month of Ramzan, a senior congress leader said.

“The situation has compounded due to the fault of the state government. We fully respect and honour the court’s order. But keeping in mind the holy Ramzan month the South 24 Parganas’ district minority cell of Congress will appeal before the SC to see that the panchayat poll dates are modified on account of the Ramzan period,” Congress leader Abdul Mannan said.

51 Andhra pilgrims stuck in Badrinath air-lifted to Dehradun

by

As many as 51 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh stranded in Badrinath and other places in Uttarakhand were air-lifted to Dehradun today.

A release from the Chief Minister’s Office said all 51 stranded pilgrims in Badrinath and other places have been brought to Dehradun.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy inquired in the evening about the rescue and relief efforts for Telugu pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand, it said.

Congress leaders demand formation of separate Telangana state

by

After pursuing the separate Telangana demand with the Congress leadership all these years, the party leaders from the region unanimously voiced their demand for the separate state today, ahead of the 2014 elections.

They organised a massive ‘Telangana Sadhana Sabha’ and a public meeting to achieve Telangana, which was attended by almost all Andhra Pradesh ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders from the Telangana region.

Hailing Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders expressed confidence that a separate Telangana would be formed by the UPA government soon.

Twin blasts near Shiite mosque kills 19 in Pakistan

by

Two bomb blasts near a Shiite mosque killed at least 19 people in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta today.

The blasts near Abu Talib Imambargah at the Shiite- majority Hazara town also injured over 60 persons, they said.

Firing was also reported after the blasts. Some security sources said the first blast was a suicide attack.

The injured were shifted to nearby military and civil hospitals.

Hospital sources said that women and children were among the dead and injured. Sources said that 20 injured were registered critical.

Shiv Sena Samajvadi leader arrested

by

The city president of Shiv Sena Samajvadi was arrested today for allegedly hurting the sentiments of a particular community.

Police had registered a case against at least two dozen activists of Shiv Sena Samajvadi on charge of burning the effigy of Head of Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh on Friday.

A delegation led by Gurjit Singh Khalsa, a SGPC member, met SSP Batala Tulsi Ram on the same day and demanded registration of a criminal case against the activists of Shiv Sena Samajvadi for hurting the sentiments of Sikhs.