Month: September 2013

Kenyan held for murder of British girlfriend

by

A Kenyan man was remanded in custody today for the alleged murder of his British girlfriend, whose charred body was found on a roadside in Kenya’s tourist Indian Ocean coast region.

Risley Levers Kavu was arrested over the weekend in connection with the gruesome murder of Natalie Kelsall, 24,
whose burnt body was found in the district of Mombasa, Kenya’s main port city.

Judge Martin Muya ordered Kavu be held in prison to allow psychological examinations before charges or any plea is made, with the next court appearance due October 4.

Recipe: Besan Burfi

by

Try out this mouth-watering burfi recipe.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Bengal Gram Flour
1 Cup Sugar (powder)
½ cup Ghee
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder

Procedure:

Take a non stick fry pan and put it on low heat.
Cook the gram flour on low flame till it becomes aromatic.
Make sure the colour of the besan does not change. Add the sugar and mix well..
Remove from fire. Mix the cardamom powder.
Take a tray and smear some oil on the bottom and sides.
Spread this mixture on this tray.
When the mixture is set cut into small squares or diamonds.

High economic growth key to poverty reduction: President

by

President Pranab Mukherjee Monday emphasised the importance of high economic growth for poverty reduction, saying it has paid rich dividends in the last two decades by lifting one billion people across the world from penury.

At the same time, he stressed that a rural growth strategy has become necessary to make a decisive impact on poverty and to trigger a development process that combines growth with equity.

I cut ribbons as I complete projects: Dikshit to Modi

by

Retorting to Narendra Modi’s barb calling her a ribbon-cutting Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit on Monday said ribbons are cut when projects are finished and that the remarks by BJP’s PM candidate had only exposed his ignorance about the city’s administrative structure.

“It is lack of knowledge on Modi’s part. He should know that ribbons are cut after a project is completed. It is part of the tradition of the country,” Dikshit, eyeing an unprecedented fourth victory in the November assembly polls, said while ruling out that the Modi-factor will impact Congress’ prospects.

SC takes cognizance of contempt by Army chief

by

The Supreme Court Monday took suo motu cognizance of the former Indian Army chief Gen. VK Singh finding fault with its verdict on his age row last year.

A special bench of Justice RM Lodha and Justice HL Gokhale will Tuesday take up for hearing a suo motu contempt petition by the court’s own motion taking note of a newspaper report wherein the former chief of the army staff has been quoted criticising the apex court decision on his age row.

The matter will come up for hearing before the special bench at 2 p.m.

Hillary’s next prez bid ‘will be better’ than 2008: Bill Clinton

by

Hillary Clinton’s next presidential bid “will be better” than her last, former US President Bill Clinton has said, all but confirming that his wife will run for the White House in 2016.

Bill Clinton, in an interview aired yesterday, said if Hillary launches another bid for the presidency in 2016, she will be a more able competitor than she was in 2008, when she was defeated for the Democratic party nomination by Barack Obama.

“The next one will be better,” the former president was quoted as saying by ABC News.

Turkey lifts ban on headscarves in public institutions

by

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced that his government would lift a ban on wearing headscarves in public institutions as part of reforms to boost rights.

“We are lifting the ban in public institutions,” said the prime minister.

AFP

Al Qaeda militants seize Army HQ in Yemen port city

by

Al Qaeda militants seized Army headquarters in Yemeni port city Mukalla on Monday, killing two soldiers and taking many more hostage, in their second major assault in 10 days, military officials said.

Militants from al Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia stormed the seaside base after a suicide bomber rammed a car into the entrance, a military official said.

The militants, who were dressed in special forces uniforms and drew up in four military vehicles, then took much of the garrison hostage, the official said.

Rape victim wants fresh medical test of ex-minister

by

A 35-year-old woman approached a court here Monday demanding a fresh medical examination of former Rajasthan minister Babu Lal Nagar accused of raping her and sought the presence of a magistrate during the fresh process, a lawyer said.

The woman approached the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Monday, her lawyer Gyan Singh said.

Syria attack probe ends ahead of disarmament mission

by

UN experts wrapped up their investigation of alleged gas attacks in Syria on Monday, as a chemical weapons disarmament team arrived in neighbouring Lebanon ahead of their trip to Damascus.

President Bashar al-Assad has insisted Syria will comply with a UN resolution under which his regime must turn over its chemical weapons for destruction.

The UN Security Council is to begin talks today on a statement about the humanitarian crisis in Syria which could include a disputed call to allow cross-border missions, diplomats said.

Former Sun journalist charged with hacking in UK

by

A former Sun newspaper reporter has become the first person to be charged under Operation Tuleta, Scotland Yard’s investigation into alleged computer hacking and other privacy breaches.

Ben Ashford, 34, has been charged with possessing criminal property and unauthorised access to computer material. He will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 15.

Asford is currently working as a freelance journalist, operating from his home in London. He was a staff reporter with the Sun until 2010, and friends said he was “baffled” by the decision and would fight the charges.

Pakistan minister challenges Salman Khurshid’s comments

by

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan has termed India’s External Affairs Minster Salman Khurshid’s jibe against the Pakistan Army as “unnecessary” and maintained there was no disharmony between the military and civilian government on all international issues.

In a statement issued Sunday night, Nisar said the Indian minister’s comments were “unnecessary and against diplomatic norms”, Dawn News quoted him as saying. Nisar said it could hinder the peace process between the two countries, adding New Delhi was not serious in pursuing the dialogue with Pakistan.

Manmohan Singh-Nawaz Sharif talks a ‘miracle’, says Pakistani media

by

The Pakistani media Monday termed the meeting between India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan’s Premier Nawaz Sharif as no less than a “miracle”, given the troublesome backdrop against which it took place.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York Sunday.

In an editorial, the News International said the prelude to the meeting couldn’t have been more disastrous, and that the meeting itself took place is a minor miracle as both sides called it useful and constructive.

‘Shinde should be sacked for dividing nation on communal lines’: BJP

by

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde should be sacked by President Pranab Mukherjee with immediate effect for dividing the country on communal lines.

“And, on the basis of the submission, the direction, the orders issued by the Home Minister for a gross violation of the constitutional provisions where the honourable Home Minister has chosen to segregate a community for a directive should be sacked by the President with immediate effect,” said BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Meeting with Manmohan Singh ‘productive’: Nawaz Sharif

by

Terming his first meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “productive”, Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif today said dialogue between the two countries is the only way forward in normalising ties.

“Dialogue is the only way forward in normalising situation between the two neighbourly countries,” Sharif said on his arrival at the Heathrow airport in London on his return from the US after attending the UN General Assembly.

Bangladesh war crimes court to deliver verdict on BNP leader

by

A special Bangladeshi tribunal will on Tuesday give its verdict on senior BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury’s alleged involvement in war crimes, prompting authorities to intensify security across the nation.

The verdict will come 16 months after the high-powered International Crimes Tribunal indicted 64-year-old Chowdhury on 23 specific charges of crimes against humanity committed along with Pakistani troops during the 1971 liberation war.

CM Abdul Malik survives rocket attack in quake-hit area of Pakistan

by

Chief Minister Abdul Malik had a narrow escape on Monday when militants fired rockets at him while he was monitoring relief activities for victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Nobody took responsibility for the attack in Awaran, a district near the epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude temblor that is a stronghold of separatist militants of the Balochistan Liberation Front. The quake killed over 500 people and left tens of thousands homeless.

There was no loss of life or property due to the attack, Dawn News channel reported.

Coming soon on book stands: Musharraf’s ‘Why I returned to Pakistan’

by

Former military dictator Pervez Musharrafis reportedly set to pen down another book titled, ‘Why I returned to Pakistan’, narrating the dictator’s purpose of returning to the land in order to ‘salvage the country from the crises.’

Sources said that according to Musharraf, Pakistan country was facing uncertain, flammable, volatile and disfigured anarchy, which the rulers seemed to be helpless in controlling; hence he decided to return to the country.

Nisar slams Khurshid for making ‘unnecessary’ remarks against Pak army

by

The Interior Minister of Pakistan, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has rejected allegations made by Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, against the Pakistan Army that it was hindering the peace process between the two countries.

In a strongly-worded statement issued through the Press Information Department, he said that the remarks made by Khurshid were ‘unnecessary and against diplomatic norms’.

Apple Inc is ‘most valuable brand’ in the world

by

Technology giant Apple has been reportedly chosen as the world’s ‘most valuable brand’ for 2013 by Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report.

Last year the top position went to soft-drink manufacturer Coca-Cola, which slipped down to the third position this year.

According to the New York Times, it was the first time in 13 years that Coca-Cola lost out to Apple as the Best Global Brands.

Apple was followed by search giant Google on number two position while IBM featured on fourth position, which till last year secured the third position.

‘Shinde’s letter to CMs inspired by vote bank politics’: Naidu

by

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) leader Venkaiah Naidu on Monday criticized Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s letter to state chief ministers not to detain innocent Muslim youth wrongfully, calling it ‘unconstitutional’ and driven by vote bank politics.

“The Home Minister has given a directive to the states, which is totally against the Constitution, which is against the democratic principles. It is inspired by vote bank politics, and it is given keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and also state assembly elections,” he said.

SC issues notice to Centre, CBI, RIL on gas controversy

by

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Centre, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and others on a PIL seeking cancellation of contract for exploration of oil and gas concerning the KG block and to impose penalty for failure in adhering to commitments.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam sought response from CBI on the petition filed by Civil society members including former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian and ex-Naval chief Admiral L Ramdas seeking probe by the agency in the alleged “collusion between RIL and the political establishment”.

Eight core sectors grow by 3.7% in August

by

Eight infrastructure industries posted a 7-month high growth rate of 3.7 percent in August on the back of good performance by power, cement, steel and fertiliser sectors.

The growth of the core sectors was, however, lower as compared to 6.1 percent recored in the same month last year, according to the official data released Monday.

Current account deficit widens to 4.9% of GDP in June quarter

by

High imports of gold and oil pushed Current Account Deficit (CAD) to 4.9 percent of GDP to USD 21.8 billion in the April-June quarter of the current fiscal, RBI said Monday.

CAD, the difference between inflow and outflow of foreign exchange, was 4.4 percent or USD 16.9 billion in the same quarter of last fiscal, 2012-13.

“The trade deficit, coupled with a slow recovery in net invisibles (income and services), led to widening of CAD to USD 21.8 billion in Q1 of 2013-14 from USD 16.9 billion in Q1 of 2012-13,” RBI said in its Balance of Payments statement.