Month: September 2013

Political parties in Kashmir to support privilege motion against V K Singh

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Many political parties in Kashmir supported a privilege motion against former chief of army staff General V K Singh for alleging that the army had paid money to politicians in the state for getting certain stability-related jobs done.

Leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the privilege motion against V. K. Singh.

“It is good that they have brought the Privilege Motion against V. K. Singh. But it should not stop at V. K. Singh only. Many people in Delhi have questioned leakage of report,” she said.

‘Khadi has unique capability to create employment’: Mukherjee

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President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that Khadi has the unique capability to create employment at the dwelling place of artisans with very low capital requirement.

President Mukherjee, who launched the Khadi Mark today at a function at Vigyan Bhavan, said that Khadi has, over the years, kindled hope for over a million artisan families to rise above deprivation and backwardness, and added that it remained an important vehicle for the development of rural India.

Satellites provide view of sinking Venice

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Modern satellites are helping scientists monitor how quickly Venice – the “floating city” of romance – is sinking with an unprecedented level of resolution.

The results show the city is naturally subsiding at a rate of about 0.8 to 1 millimetre per year, while human activities contribute sinking of about 0.08 to 2 to 10 mm per year.

Researchers said the sinking threatens to increase flooding in Venice, which already occurs due to high tides about four times per year.

Petrol price cut by over Rs 3 a litre; diesel up by 50 paise

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Petrol price was today cut by Rs 3.05 per litre, the first reduction in rates in over five months and the steepest in over five years, while diesel prices were raised by 50 paise a litre.

The price changes announced by oil companies are excluding local sales tax or VAT and will be effective midnight tonight.

While petrol price cut has been made possible because of appreciation in rupee value against US dollar, diesel rates are being hiked as per the practice of increase in rates by small monthly doses to cover losses.

Rabri and son to take over RJD’s reins in Lalu’s absence

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With Lalu Prasad in jail after his conviction in the multi-crore fodder scam case, his wife Rabri Devi today said she and her son will run the RJD “as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul are guiding the Congress”.

Asked about impact of the court order on Rashtriya Janata Dal’s future, Rabri, who has had three stints as Chief Minister of Bihar, said she and her son would run the party in the absence of Lalu Prasad “as he had created the party and nourished it”.

Immolation bid by woman ex-employee of college

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A woman formerly employed in a Delhi University college set herself on fire here Monday over alleged sexually harassment by the institution’s principal, police said. The victim is in hospital with critical burns.

Pavitra Bhardwaj, 40, poured kerosene on herself and set herself on fire outside Delhi Secretariat in central Delhi around 2 p.m., police said.

According to police, the victim, a former lab attendant at Bhim Rao Ambedkar College in east Delhi, was taken to hospital with 90 percent burns.

She was sacked from the college two years ago, police said.

–IANS

NASA plans first 3D printer space launch in 2014

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Made in space! NASA is planning to launch a toaster-sized 3D printer into space next year to help astronauts manufacture spare parts and tools in zero gravity.

The space manufacturing company, Made in Space’s customised 3D printer will be the first device to manufacture parts away from planet Earth.

The 3D Printing in Zero-G Experiment will validate the capability of additive manufacturing in zero-gravity.

“Imagine an astronaut needing to make a life-or-death repair on the International Space Station,” said Aaron Kemmer, CEO of Made in Space.

Minor’s rapist gets 10 years jail

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A Delhi court Monday sentenced a waiter to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and raping a two-year-old neighbour after taking away the girl from her father on the pretext of playing with her.

Additional Sessions Judge M.C. Gupta awarded the jail term to Bablu, 26, after holding him guilty of kidnapping, wrongfully confining and raping the child four years ago and slapped a fine of Rs.20,000.

Salman Khan supports Elli Avram in ‘Bigg Boss’: Manish Paul

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TV host and actor Manish Paul says he is watching `Bigg Boss Saath 7` only because of contestant Elli Avram, his co-actor in his debut film `Mickey Virus`. He also feels that the actress has the support of Salman Khan, the host of the show.

“I am watching the show only because of her. She is my co-star and is promoting the film very well. Salman Khan is also supporting her,” Manish said here in an interview.

“There is a lot of excitement and people are really liking her,” he added.

Meanwhile, Manish also wants viewers to watch the film if they like Elli in the show.

Three superfoods that’s bound to keep you healthy this autumn

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Autumn is here and that means a new crop of seasonal nutrient-dense fruit and vegetable “superfoods”, that increase our overall wellness and nutrition and help support a healthy lifestyle, will be harvested soon.

Kari Kooi, registered dietician at Houston Methodist Hospital, said superfoods are brimming with nutrients and antioxidants. The benefits of adding them into your everyday meals are numerous, as a nutritious diet can really have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health.

Kooi suggested top four superfoods that you can incorporate into your daily meals.

Anna Hazare awarded inaugural Allard Prize for International Integrity in Canada

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The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Law at Allard Hall presented Anna Hazare with the inaugural Allard Prize for International Integrity here, where India’s social activist said that he hopes that the recognition will make his movement an example for the generations to come. “My lifelong mission to fight corruption and promote transparency is stronger for having received this award,” Hazare said at a special ceremony held here on Thursday night.

Modi feels those who live and die for people will now come to power in Delhi

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Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was welcomed at Mumbai airport with party members chanting his name on Monday, and the Gujarat Chief Minister said he was confident that his party would be elected into power in the 2014 general elections. “Those who live for the people, those who die for the people are now coming to Delhi,” Modi told the gathered supporters on his arrival in Mumbai. Modi also took a jibe at the ruling UPA government, and accused them of rampant corruption which, he said, has affected the upliftment of the poor in the country.

Congress using poor for votebank politics: Rajnath Singh

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh on Monday took a jibe at the ruling Congress-led UPA Government, and alleged that the Centre had given the poor ‘crutches’ intentionally to play votebank politics on them in the lead-up to the 2014 general elections. “I think poor should not be tipped for vote bank politics. They do not need tips. They need employment. The Congress party that has ruled the country for 54 years has first created poor and then has given them crutches intentionally.

Vote for change, to make India shine: Modi

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BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday urged people to vote for change to make India “shine”.

Addressing a jampacked function of the Bharat Diamond Bourse — the world’s largest diamond exchange here, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Gujarat chief minister said “it is a matter of just eight months” for bringing a change in the country.

“After nine months, the country will emerge out of all the current challenges and difficulties and march forward to a new era,” Modi said, hinting that he expects Lok Sabha polls on time.

Jayalalithaa case: SC quashes prosecutor’s withdrawal

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In a relief to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court Monday quashed the withdrawal of Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh in a corruption case against her.

“… we are of the considered opinion that the order of removal of G. Bhavani Singh …is a product of mala fide and the impugned order is not sustainable in the eyes of law, as such the same is hereby quashed, the court said.

Asaram Bapu’s judicial custody extended till Oct. 11

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Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu’s judicial custody on Monday was extended by another 14 days, till October 11, by the Jodhpur Court. Asaram, 72, was arrested on September 1, on allegations of sexual assault on a minor at his Ashram here. Asaram has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act ( POCSO ) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

NRI student’s death: Six accused sent to judicial custody

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Six accused arrested in connection with the death of NRI student Anmol Sarna and drug abuse were Monday denied bail by a Delhi court and sent to judicial custody till Oct 14.

The court denied the accused bail saying the probe was at an initial stage and the allegations against them were serious in nature.

Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Wason sent 21-year-old Sarna’s friends Shivang Gambhir, Madhav, Pranil Shah, Rythm Girhotra, all in their 20s, to Tihar Jail.

PM letter forgery case: Bail granted to Jagdish Tytler

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Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Monday was granted bail by a Delhi Court in a case involving the alleged forgery of a letter sent to the Prime Minister. The bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs. 2 lakh with two sureties of the like amount subject to conditions. Tytler, who appeared before the Delhi Court today, moved a bail plea that said that he was not required for any custodial examination. The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged that Tytler had “actively connived” with business Abhishek Verma to cheat a telecom firm from China.

‘We are firmly supporting our PM’: Sonia Gandhi

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UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday hit back at the opposition for targetting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and said the ruling Congress Party will continue to work for the people. “They make fun of our party, Prime Minister. But I would like to say that we are firmly supporting our PM. We are not afraid of any political party, and not afraid of their attacks. We will continue to work for the people,” she said while addressing a rally here.

YSR Congress to hold meeting in Hyderabad for united Andhra

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YSR Congress party will hold a massive public meeting in Hyderabad in October to oppose the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, announced party president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

With the court Monday refusing him permission to travel to Guntur, where he planned to launch ‘samaikyandhra’ (united Andhra) campaign, Jaganmohan Reddy has decided to organize the meeting in Hyderabad, which is geographically a part of Telangana.

Couple has identical triplets beating odds of 200 million to one

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A couple has given birth to three identical babies, beating odds of 200 million to one to even be conceived.

The baby girls named Ffion, Maddison and Paige Gilbert, who were formed when a single egg split into three, which is an extremely rare occurrence, have finally arrived home after spending six weeks in the hospital, the Mirror reported.

Doctors had warned the couple that the unborn babies could steal fluid off each other in the cramped space they shared, killing one or more of them, but the determined parents rejected pleas to terminate their girls.

Rare pic of Titanic dead buried at sea revealed

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A rare photograph showing the dead bodies of dozens of Titanic victims stacked high in bags, before they were buried at sea, has been made public for the first time.

The snap, which shows two men dropping a victim over the side of body recovery ship, the Mackay Bennett, was taken days after the ship hit an iceberg on April 15, 1912, the Mirror reported.

The pic also shows the boat’s Rev Hind leading the service as the somber crew looks on.

Henry Aldridge and Son will auction the photo, which is set to fetch 5,000 pounds, on October 19.

Coleen Rooney splurges £523 on single basketball ticket

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Coleen Rooney and her footie ace hubby, Wayne Rooney, have splashed out 523 pounds per ticket for ringside seats at a basketball game.

According to the Daily Star, footballers and the cast of ‘Corrie’ have made bookings for the game, which is to be held at Manchester’s Phones4U arena on October 8.

A source told the publication that Coleen loves basketball so she asked Wayne to treat her to tickets. (ANI)

Strength training as physical exercise boosts 90-year-olds’ muscle power

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A new study has found that after doing specific training for 12 weeks, people over the age of 90 improved their strength, power and muscle mass.

This was reflected in an increase in their walking speed, a greater capacity to get out of their chairs, an improvement in their balance, a significant reduction in the incidence of falls and a significant improvement in muscle power and mass in the lower limbs.