Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan could be disqualified for five years from the Assembly membership and from the party office if the Supreme Court convicts him in the contempt case, legal experts have said.
Muslims here took a step in promoting communal harmony by inviting guests from various communities for their Iftar dinner yesterday. Holding Iftar dinners jointly across communities is a tradition that is reviving in Jammu and Kashmir, after it was lost during its years of heavy insurgency and militancy. The state has been relatively stable in recent times.
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s father reportedly denied the offer provided by the FBI to fly to Moscow where his son has been holed up for over a month.
Snowden who has been stuck up at the Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport over a revoked passport is still awaiting the response of the Russian government regarding his temporary asylum request and the FBI offered to fly his father Lon Snowden to Moscow to try to meet his son, ABC News reports.
Nigella Lawson and estranged hubby Charles Saatchi’s 10-year-marriage finally ended following a court trial that lasted just over a minute.
According to a UK publication, the TV Chef was the applicant in the case that was heard at a High Court in London, Stuff.co.nz reported.
The couple and their legal reps were not present at the hearing.
The pair will be required to wait for another six weeks for the split to be legally finalised.
The terms of the divorce or financial settlements will not be released to the public, as per the duo’s choice. (ANI)
The Australian women”s cricket team is reportedly set for battle in England for the women”s Ashes series, even as the elite men”s team struggle to remain in contention to win the same goal.
As the clamor for reinstating suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal grew louder, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday defended his government’s action, saying the bureaucrat ordered the demolition of a portion of the mosque which might have resulted in disturbing peace in the state.
“You should inquire from the people of that village. The Muslim families collected donation for building a mosque, a wall was built, and you took the decision without holding any consultation and spoilt the environment there,” he said.
Researchers have developed a solar film, which could help turn smartphone and car into solar-powered devices.
The device is created out of two thin polymer solar cells that collect rays from the sun and turn it into energy.
Head researcher Yang Yang said that the team is hoping that the device will offer new directions for solar cells, including the creation of solar windows on homes and office buildings, Fox News reported.
A new study has found that forming male-female pairs when young has been found vital for mating success.
According to the study, male zebra finches that fail to socialise with females during adolescence are less successful at courtship later in life, the BBC reported.
This effect mimics the “loser effect” where, after a defeat, an animal is more likely to lose a subsequent fight.
Social friendships at a young age were found to be more important than physical and social attractiveness.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the US for talks with President Barack Obama, paving the way for the highest level parleys between the two sides since the killing of Osama bin Laden two years ago.
The invitation from Kerry, who arrived here last night, will help revive Pakistan-US talks that have been hit by a string of crises since early 2011.
National Teeka Express, an initiative to protect children from life-threatening diseases, was launched by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajasthan’s Alwar district on Thursday.
“Vaccines of seven deadly diseases will be distributed in villages and hamlets under this scheme. This affirms our commitment to vaccinate children in remote areas,” Azad said during the inauguration ceremony of the programme.
The Centre has asked all states to tighten security in sensitive places as communal elements may try to create trouble ahead of Eid.
“We have told all states to be alert, to be careful. The communal forces may create trouble,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at a press conference here.
He was replying to a question whether the Home Ministry has sent any advisory to states ahead of the festival.
Asked whether he had taken steps for release of jailed Muslim youth accused of terror charges, the Home Minister said he had ordered gathering of information about such youth.
Union Home Minister Shushilkumar Shinde on Thursday ruled out the possibility of the introduction of the bill for the creation of Telangana in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
However, he ensured that the new state will become a reality in six months.
“Not in this session. I do not think it will come so soon. May be, by next session,” the Union Minister said at a press conference here.
Shinde said, “Normally it takes 8-9 months but we will try to do at the earliest. May be five and half months to six months, may be earlier than that.”
In view of Samaikyandhra agitation at Dharmavaram Station, the South Central Railway has diverted one train, Partially Cancelled four train while cancelling four other trains.
According to the SCR, Train No. 11013 Mumbai LTT-Coimbatore Express, departed Mumbai LTT on 31st July, 2013 is diverted to run via Guntakal, Bellary, Chikajajur and Bangalore.
City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma on Thursday ordered the closure of win shops, including bars in restaurants, from August 4th to 6th in connection with Bonalu festival in Hyderabad City.
However, the bars in Star Hotels and Registered Clubs have been exempted from the orders. (INN)
In a significant development, owing to the heavy rains, very good inflows in Krishna Basin and subsequent reduction of demand, the power utilities on Thursday lifted the total power cuts to the industrial sector.
Condemning the Congress Party decision to divide the state which has hurt the feelings of one region, YSR Congress has said that Delhi did not play its role properly in addressing the issue.
“We firmly believe that justice should be done to all regions and the Centre has failed to take stock of the situation and the consequences arising out of the division while TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu started speaking in a tone that sounds like an extension of Delhi Congress,” party spokesperson Jupudi Prabhakar told reporters here on Thursday.
Infrastructure Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao resigned from the State Cabinet here on Thursday in protest against the Centre’s decision to divide Andhra Pradesh.
“As an ardent supporter and as a representative of people wishing and praying for united Andhra Pradesh, it is very painful to note the developments on this front. I strongly believe that this development and decision in favour of separation of State is not at all acceptable to the people whom I represent,” Ganta said in his resignation letter written to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
As announced, the Congress MLAs from Seemandhra region have started submitting resignations from their posts in protest against the Centre’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana.
The MLAs started assembling at the chambers of Speaker Nadendla Manohar since 5 PM on Thursday. Since the Speaker was not available, the MLAs handed over their resignation letters to the Assembly Secretary.
AICC General Secretary and Incharge of AP Congress Affairs Digvijay Singh on Thursday appealed to the Seemandhra ministers and legislators to restrain from taking steps like mass resignations and avoid confrontation.
“I appeal to all concerned to have patience. They should maintain peace and harmony and we will address all the issues,” Digvijay Singh said.
Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy on Thursday warned the Samaikhyandhra activists of stern action if they indulge in violence.
“No one has the right to infringe on the rights of the individuals and create lawlessness and as long as it is well within the democratic process no one will have objection. It is highly objectionable and unbecoming to indulge in vandalism of the statues of the national leaders,” the DGP said adding that all such persons and those behind such acts would be very seriously dealt with. (INN)
In order to relieve traffic congestion, to maintain smooth flow of traffic and to ensure public safety in connection with Jummat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of Ramzan month prayers at the Mecca Masjid and at Jame-e-Masjid, Secunderabad, on August 2, the City Police has imposed certain traffic restrictions.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said that the separate state of Telangana may be a reality in less than six months.
The Supreme Court today pulled up the Income Tax department and CBI for not taking action in the last five years on information gathered from tapped phone conversations of Niira Radia with corporate honchos, politicians and others, saying it is “not a happy situation”.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan asked the authorities why they did not take action as the tapes contain talks “far beyond” personal conversations.
“The tapping was done five years ago, what have they (government authorities) done so far? Were they waiting for court’s order?,”the bench said.
India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets to take extend their lead by 4-0 in the five-match ODI series at the Queens Sports Club, here today.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe: 144 all out in 42.4 overs (Elton Chigumbura not out 50, Malcolm Waller 35; Amit Mishra 3/25, Mohit Sharma 2/26).
India: 146 for one in 30.5 overs (Suresh Raina not out 66, Rohit Sharma not out 64; Tendai Chatara 1/31).
Gold prices dropped at the domestic bullion market today on hectic profit-taking by stockists and traders coupled with uncertain global cues.
Silver also slipped owing to speculative sell-off amidst lower industrial buying and again settled below the Rs 42,000 per kg mark.
Standard gold of 99.5 per cent purity fell by Rs 255 to close at Rs 28,270 per 10 gm from Wednesday’s closing level of Rs 28,525.
Pure gold of 99.9 per cent purity declined by Rs 240 to end at Rs 28,415 per 10 gm from Rs 28,655.