Month: August 2013

UPA to benefit if Bihar gets special state status: Nitish Kumar

by

Narendra Modi won’t be an issue in Bihar in the next Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said while refusing to be drawn into a discussion on Gujarat versus Bihar models of development.

Kumar, whose party walked out of the NDA in June breaking a 17-year-old alliance with BJP, also said the UPA stands to benefit if the Centre grants special state status to Bihar.

He, however, evaded a direct question on whether his party will support a Congress-led government from outside in 2014 saying it was “hypothetical”.

Cong leaders creating problems for Rahul by defying gag: BJP

by

Seeking to ridicule Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s diktat aimed at refraining party spokespersons from making out-of-turn remarks, BJP on Wednesday said the order was apparently having no effect as Congress leaders are defying the same and “creating problems for Rahul”.

“Rahulji had told Congress leaders that only party spokespersons will talk (to the media). By talking (to media), they (Congress leaders) are creating problems for Rahul Gandhi only,” BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here after attending Iftar party organised by the city BJP unit.

DRDO lab makes chilli spray for self-defence

by

A defence research laboratory has developed an eco-friendly spray from the world’s hottest chilli for personal protection and self-defence, Defence Minister AK Antony told Rajya Sabha Wednesday.

The spray has been extracted from the Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum Assamicum), grown in Assam and other northeastern states.

Antony said the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Tezpur, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), developed the chilli spray, dubbed “capsispray”.

Kissing scenes with Bower were awkward: Lily Collins

by

Actress Lily Collins says kissing scenes with co-star Jamie Campbell Bower in “The Mortal Instruments” were awkward and “super unsexy”.

The film is helmed by director Harald Zwart.

“I promise you that it is super awkward and super unsexy because everyone’s staring,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Collins as saying.

Collins, who is rumoured to be dating Bower, also said people are cast together in a film only because they have a certain chemistry.

KKR given time to pay tax for IPL matches played at Ranchi

by

The Jamshedpur Urban Circle Commercial Tax Department has granted the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) three weeks time to pay entertainment tax for two IPL matches played at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi last May.

“We have asked them to pay the tax as well as the interest accrued by August 25,” a senior official with the Jamshedpur Urban Circle Commercial Tax department today said with a request not to be quoted.

Altogether, KKR will have to pay around Rs 51.68 lakh towards tax and interest, he said.

Obama honors Africa attack victims on 15th anniversary

by

US President Barack Obama paid tribute today to victims of the 1998 terror attacks against the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Obama vowed to prevent such attacks in the future, speaking amid new threats of an Al-Qaeda attack that have forced the closure of some 20 American embassies or consulates in the Middle East and Africa.

Egypt Prez slams US labelling Morsi removal as ‘coup’

by

Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour and several political groups today reacted angrily to US Congressmen John McCain and Lindsey Graham’s use of the term ‘coup’ to refer to the ouster of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.

McCain and Graham both labelled the July 3 overthrow of Morsi as a military coup, and called for the release of Muslim Brotherhood leaders, in a meeting yesterday in Cairo with members of the government, the defence minister and supporters of Morsi.

Jack Osbourne to become father again

by

Television personality Jack Osbourne and her wife Lisa Stelly are expecting their second child.

The couple, who welcomed their first child, a daughter named Pearl in April 2012, are “super excited” to expand their family, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Confirming the news on her blog Raddest Mom Tuesday, Stelly posted: “Jack and I are super excited to share with you all that we are expecting our second baby! I am in my second trimester, feeling great a nd trying not to eat everything in sight.”

MANUU’s 5th Convocation on Aug 24

by

The Maulana Azad National Urdu University is organizing 5th Convocation on August 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Global Peace Auditorium, ISB Road, Gachibowli.

According to the Controller of Examinations the students of Regular Mode Programmes who passed out in 2012 and applied to receive Degree “in person”, can obtain their Degrees/Medals in the Convocation. The Distance Mode students who have passed out in 2011 and 2012, and are eligible to receive the Gold Medals can receive the Medals in the Convocation.

Bangladesh boundary pact, LoC incident figures at PM, BJP meeting

by

The India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement and Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s statement on killing of five soliders near LoC figured during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with BJP leaders Wednesday, informed sources said.

The sources said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders conveyed their concerns on the protocol to the land boundary agreement that was signed during Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September 2011.

Police warn against violence in Samaikhyandhra agitation

by

In the wake of the Samaikyandhra agitation, the State police has registered around 124 criminal cases in the last one week under specific sections of the IPC and other Acts. The cases were booked for offences like damage to statues of national leaders, buses (both APS RTC and private buses) and public property, besides, rioting and assault.

CM reviews relief works, water levels in reservoirs

by

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday reviewed the flood situation and water levels in various Reservoirs in the State with the officials at him Camp Office.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness that all reservoirs including Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar are at Full Reservoir Levels and the agricultural operations are in full swing. The Chief Minister directed the officials to closely monitor the Reservoir levels and see that water is released to the canals for cultivation by regulating at the field level.

Traffic challans will kill road users from next week

by

Violating traffic rules in Hyderabad City will cost dearly for the vehicle owners from the next week.

The Hyderabad Traffic Police have decided to implement the GO 108, which is about enhancement of fines for certain traffic violations, from August 12. As per the G.O 108, the fine for signal jumping will be increased from present Rs 400 to Rs 1,000, hike by 60 per cent. The fine for Cell Phone driving has been doubled from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. The fine for unauthorized parking has been increased by 80 per cent from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.

Cadbury India to invest Rs 1000 Cr in AP

by

Cadbury India, part of Mondelez International, has announced plans to invest more than Rs 1000 crore in Phase-1of the company’s largest manufacturing plant in Asia Pacific to be located in Sri City of Andhra Pradesh.

The Cadbury India on Wednesday signed an agreement with Sri City to take on lease 134 acres of land for the proposed facility. The first phase is expected to be completed by mid-2015. The project will be developed in four phases and is scheduled for final completion by 2020.

Adele to throw lavish first b’day for son

by

Singer Adele wants to celebrate her son’s first birthday in style. She has reportedly booked the top floor of the Beaufort Hotel here.

Adele, who had her first child Angelo with Simon Konecki Oct 19, 2012, is said to be planning to celebrate the special day a month earlier at the upmarket venue, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Adele wants to mark Angelo’s first birthday in style,” The Sun newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Comedian Alan Carr and Adele’s friend Sid Owen have reportedly been invited.

Chris Brown ready to quit music?

by

“X” might be rapper Chris Brown’s last album as he is reportedly ready to quit music thereafter.

The 24-year-old is “tired of being famous” and wants to quit the industry because he is fed up of still hitting the headlines for the domestic violence altercation he had with ex-girlfriend Rihanna back in 2009, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Don’t worry mainstream America. After this ‘X’ album, it’ll probably be my last album,” Brown tweeted.

Two killed, 15 injured in Pakistan blast

by

At least two people were killed and 15 wounded when a bomb blast occurred near a shopping centre in Pakistan’s Balochistan province Wednesday, the Geo News reported.

Police said the blast damaged several shops of the market in Mastung district, but the nature of the blast was yet to be ascertained.

According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the explosion took place in the Chandni Chowk area where people were busy with Eid shopping on the second last day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Police said the bomb was planted in a box and detonated with a remote control.

–IAns

First women’s post office opens in Jharkhand

by

The first women’s post office in Jharkhand opened in Jamshedpur district Wednesday.

The post office at Sakchi was inaugurated by A.S. Prasad, chief post master general of Jharkhand, a statement said.

Prasad said the decision to open the women’s post office was taken on International Women’s Day. He said such post offices would be opened in all divisions of the state in future.

Jharkhand has been working towards empowering women. In the past, women police stations have also opened in the state.

–_Iand

Delhi Congress to popularise food scheme

by

elhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Wednesday called a meeting of Congress legislators and councillors to “popularise” the UPA’s food security scheme among the people in the election year.

“The purpose of this meeting was to brief all Congress legislators about the implementation of the scheme,” Food and Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf told IANS.

The Delhi government is set to roll out the scheme Aug 20. The benefits of the scheme will only be availed from Sep 1.

The beneficiaries will get wheat at Rs.2 per kg, rice at Rs.3 per kg and coarse grain at Re.1 per kg.

Political parties oppose Tuticorin collector’s transfer

by

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu Wednesday hit out at the government over the transfer of Tuticorin District Collector Ashish Kumar after a team of officials carried out a survey on beach sand quarrying.

In a statement issued here, Leader of Opposition Vijayakanth, of the DMDK, said: “While the government has the power to transfer its officials, it should however be in people’s interest.”

According to him, the transfer is condemnable and the centre should take appropriate action so that the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials can perform their functions impartially.

Man arrested for wife’s murder in Kashmir

by

Police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur Wednesday arrested a man on charges of having murdered his wife, whose semi-decomposed body was found in a rented accommodation in the town.

A senior police officer told IANS here Ram Kumar was arrested after the inquest proceedings and post mortem report was received on suspicion of having murdered his wife after a domestic quarrel.

“During sustained interrogation the accused broke down and admitted having killed his wife. He claimed his wife would often quarrel with him over petty issues and his drinking habits,” the officer said.

15 killed in insurgent attacks in Iraq

by

Fifteen people were killed and 11 wounded in bombings and shootings in Iraq, police said Wednesday.

A booby-trapped car struck a police patrol in the city of Mosul, some 400 km north of here, killing four policemen and two passers-by and wounding another policeman, reported Xinhua citing a police source.

In another incident in Mosul, a policeman shot dead two gunmen after they were caught planting a roadside bomb, the source said.

Also in Mosul, a roadside bomb went off near a police patrol, killing a child and wounding three policemen, the source added.

Indian allegations could undermine peace process: Pakistan

by

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Wednesday that “unnecessary Indian allegations” could undermine the peace efforts between the two countries.

He also mocked Indian allegations that Pakistani Army carried out an attack on Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC), the Geo News reported.

Describing hue and cry of the Indian government and media as beyond comprehension, he said New Delhi should avoid shifting the responsibility of its failures on the Pakistan Army.

Delhi Police chief holds Independence Day security meet

by

Ahead of the Independence Day, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi Wednesday held a meeting of senior police officers from neighbouring states to discuss security related issues.

The meeting was attended by officers of the Delhi Police and their counterparts from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himanchal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.

“The objective of the meeting was to share terror related intelligence and inputs about various extremist outfits and their designs,” Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told IANS.

Court releases Pakistani woman ahead of Eid

by

The Delhi High Court Wednesday ordered the release of a detained Pakistani woman, married a man here and awaiting the outcome of her Indian citizenship application, from a government shelter to celebrate Eid with her family.

“Considering the fact that the important Muslim festival Eid is round the corner…it would be too asperous on our part to confine the petitioner in isolation, away from her husband, children and even grandchildren, in the beggars’ home on the joyous and much awaited feast of Eid,” said a division bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Indermeet Kaur.