Month: September 2013

Israel announces arrest of Iranian ‘spy’

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Israel’s Shin Bet security service today announced the arrest on September 11 of an Iranian “spy” carrying photographs of the US embassy in Tel Aviv.

News of the arrest was released just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Washington and New York, determined to expose what he described as “sweet talk” by Israel’s arch-foe Iran.

The suspect, holding a Belgian passport, was sent to Israel by Iran’s elite Republican Guards and arrested at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion international airport, Shin Bet charged in a statement.

Stop ceasefire violations: Singh tells Shareef – Amer Ali Khan reports from New York

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(Siasat News) Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh speaking to his counterpart, P.M. of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Shareef, told frankly that the Pakistan should stop ceasefire violations immediately. It should also stop Terrorist activities initiated from Pakistani land. He put these conditions for further Indo-Pak negotiation. The hour long meeting of both the Prime Ministers did not yield fruitful results.

Rajnath Singh to walk 5 kms to highlight plight of farmers

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BJP president Rajnath Singh will walk five kms as part of a ‘padyatra’ (march) organised by the party to highlight the plight of farmers, specially those producing sugarcane, cotton and soyabean.

Announcing this at a press conference here today, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said Singh would participate in the last leg of the 375-km rally, which began from Lodga in Latur district and would culminate at Aurangabad on October7.

Samajwadi Party committee to strengthen communal harmony in Muzaffarnagar

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Samajwadi Party today constituted a ” Sadbhavna Samiti” (harmony committee) comprising senior state ministers, in bid to strengthen communal ties after the Muzaffarnagar riots.

The committee headed by Shivpal Singh Yadav was constituted by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is keeping an eye on the developments in west Uttar Pradesh after the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, party sources said.

The committee members include – ministers Shahid Manzoor, Ramgovind Chowdhury, Ram Sakal Gurjar, Sahab Singh, Yogesh Pratap, Virendra Singh, Kamal Akhtar and Balram Yadav.

Siemens to cut 15,000 jobs

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In a bid to reduce costs and become more competitive, industrial giant Siemens AG plans to cut 15,000 jobs by October 2014 , company officials have revealed.

No job cuts have been made and the company plans to cut headcount via voluntary departures.

The company has already negotiated severance packages for the affected workers with union leaders, German business daily the Handelsblatt.

The layoffs at one plant may not occur because many workers will be offered positions in other areas, Siemens spokesmen said.

I’ve best wife in world: Justin Timberlake

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Singer-actor Justin Timberlake says his wife Jessica Biel is the best one in the world.

The couple dated for five years before tying the knot in October 2012. Biel has been taking really good care of him to help him get over flu.

“I have the best wife in the world. She’s been great this week,” Timberlake said in a chat show.

Timberlake admits he gets cranky when he is unwell, but it gets him the attention, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“It does get a lot of sympathy,” said Timberlake.

—–IANS

Fake death certificates issued in the names of Minister, MLA

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Causing embarrassment to the Tamil Nadu government, some miscreants have “issued” fake death certificates in the names of Minister for Cooperation Sellur K Raju and CPI(M) MLA from Madurai South R Annadurai.

The new online facility to issue birth and death certificates was launched in the Madurai Corporation earlier this month.

The computer generated certificates were “issued” by the Corporation Health Department officials through the online facility recently.

Narendra Modi mocks Sheila Dikshit; says her job is to pass the buck, cut ribbons

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Giving a major push to Delhi BJP’s assembly poll campaign, Narendra Modi today mounted a shrill attack on Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit accusing her of shirking her responsibilities by passing the buck “up or down”.

Addressing a major rally here, Modi raised the issue of December 16 gangrape incident as well as corruption in hosting of the Commonwealth Games in the capital in 2010 and ridiculed Dikshit saying “Sometimes I think if there is any happiest Chief Minister in our country, then it is the Delhi Chief Minister.

No talks on SA tour as Eden likely to host Sachin’s 200th Test

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India cricket team’s year-end tour of South Africa remained in limbo as BCCI members didn’t have any discussion on the series during its AGM in Chennai today while Eden Gardens in Kolkata is likely to get the honour of hosting Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test.

According to a BCCI official, who attended the meeting, the SA series was not even in the agenda of the AGM and only after Supreme Court allows president N Srinivasan to officially assume charge can the matter be sorted out.

Ranbir Kapoor avoids questions related to Katrina Kaif

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Actor Ranbir Kapoor got irked with media when he was asked what his rumoured girlfriend Katrina Kaif gifted him on his 31st birthday.

The actor was promoting his upcoming movie “Besharam” when a reporter at the event asked what did Katrina gift him on his birthday yesterday.

“There is a phrase in English ‘Mind your own business’,” Ranbir replied.

The “Barfi” star and Katrina recently made headlines when their pictures while holidaying together in Spain were published.

There were reports that the duo will go on a holiday again, but Ranbir chose to keep mum on this too.

General category poor students also to get scholarships in MP

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(Pervez Bari): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that now the state government will also give scholarships to students belonging to general category poor families.

Chouhan was inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 23 works costing over Rs.11 crore at Keolari in Seoni district on Sunday.

Popular Front Relief distribution in 13 Villages in Muzaffarnagar

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(Siasat.com news): The distribution of relief materials by Popular Front of India to the victims of Muzaffarnagar riots with a simple function was held at thirteen villages namely Shahpur, Kabeerpur, Tbhedi, Bhaanheda, Looe, Veshani, Sonata, Jasoi, Bhudana, Husainpur, Naagla, Jola and Todha of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

The get-together was attended by large numbers of riot victims sheltered in the villages and local community leaders besides leaders and relief volunteers of Popular Front, a press release said.

Siemens to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide by end 2014

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German engineering and technology giant Siemens said today it plans to slash 15,000 positions worldwide by late next year as part of a cost-cutting drive, including 5,000 in its home country.

The company aimed for many voluntary redundancies and to redeploy some staff within the vast conglomerate, which makes products from gas turbines to rail equipment to health care goods.

“The ongoing and planned workforce adjustments in the context of Siemens 2014 are about 15,000 positions worldwide, of which about 5,000 are in Germany,” the Munich-based company said in a statement.

KCR for Hyderabad as Telangana capital, warns stir

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TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao today threatened to launch second round of agitation if any restrictions are to be imposed by Centre on Hyderabad while addressing proposed division of Andhra Pradesh.

KCR’s statement came against the backdrop of reports that proposals like making Hyderabad a UT or a separate administrative region are being discussed as possible solutions.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), which endorsed the separate Telangana demand on July 30, proposed that Hyderabad should be the common capital of Telangana and (new) Andhra Pradesh for 10 years.

Congress committed for social justice, progressive change: Sonia Gandhi

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said her party was committed to bringing social justice and progressive change in the country.

The main objective of the UPA policies is to have inclusive, just and responsible society that empowers everyone with equal rights, Gandhi said after unveiling a statue of R Sankar, former Chief Minister of Kerala.

Recalling the contribution of Sankar, Gandhi said he had fought for the rights of backward classes who faced deep prejudice and discrimination.

Narendra Modi should contest election against Sheila Dikshit: Delhi Congress

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Hitting back at Narendra Modi for his blistering attack on Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Congress today dared him to fight election against her even as the CM herself chose to project development agenda of her government, saying her work is visible in the city.

Addressing a rally at Paschim Vihar, Dikshit said her government has been working very hard to ensure welfare of all communities while carrying out an inclusive development agenda for the city.

Open courts to be held in flood-hit areas of U’khand: Bharti

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BJP leader Uma Bharti today said that open courts would be held in the flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand to review the situation and understand the plight of people.

Open courts under the aegis of ‘Ganga Samagra Abhiyan’ would be held in calamity affected areas of the state from October 15 to November 15, she said here.

Bharti, also the convener of ‘Ganga Samagra Abhiyan’, said that after collecting the feedback, the details would be forwarded to the Union government.

Sonia praises Manmohan Singh

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In an apparent bid to assuage his feelings following Rahul Gandhi’s denunciation of the government, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi today praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying schemes launched under his “able leadership” have helped millions of people from the marginalised sections.

On a two-day visit to Kerala capital, Gandhi lauded welfare and social security schemes for marginalised people initiated by the UPA Government while inaugurating a research centre set up by her party’s Kerala unit and a major free health scheme of the Congress-led UDF Government in the state.

Artists stage protest at Jantar Mantar against Modi

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Coinciding with Narendra Modi’s rally in the city, a group of artists and activists today staged a protest against the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

The Members of Act Now for Harmony And Democracy (ANHAD) and artistes under the banner of Artistes Against Fascism held a protest at the Jantar Mantar against Modi through music singing Sufi, Thumri and Pop songs and staging stand-up comedy.

“The event showcased importance of freedom of expression and creativity – the two most important feature of democracy under threat if Modi comes to power,” an artist said.

I was under pressure in Super Over: Neesham

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His all-round performance gave Otago a thrilling win over Lions but New Zealand’s James Neesham admitted he was under pressure after being hit for boundaries in the Super Over in their Champions League Twenty20 match today.

Neesham said he was confident that his team will come on top of the Lions after they managed to tie the match but the four and a six in the first two balls in the one-over eliminator put him under pressure.

Seemandhra stir: AP employees to chart future course

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Andhra Pradesh government employees, who are at the forefront of ongoing agitation against the proposed division of the state, would firm up their future course of action.

“We will hold a meeting on Monday to chalk out our next plan of action,” said P Ashok Babu, the leader of employees.

He was addressing a public meeting organised by the employees and other united-Andhra supporters at Kurnool in Rayalaseema region.

The pro-united Andhra employees have been on strike since August 13 and they are not in a mood to relent even though they did not get salaries, Ashok Babu said.

Activist: Bahrain sentences 50 for militant links

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A Bahrain court sentenced 50 people today to prison terms of between five and 15 years after a mass trial for alleged links to a militant group blamed for bombings and other anti-government attacks in the Gulf nation, a rights activist said.

The convictions mark the broadest blow yet to suspected backers of the February 14 faction, named after the date in 2011 that an uprising began by Bahrain’s Shiite majority seeking greater political rights from Sunni rulers.

The verdicts could stir more unrest in the strategic kingdom, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Singh, Sharif invite each other for official visits

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Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan today extended invitations to each other for official visits as they meet here for the first time to discuss ways to normalise bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at New York’s Palace Hotel in midtown Manhattan on the margins on UN General Assembly session.

“Sharif invited Prime Minister Singh to visit Pakistan and Singh invited Sharif to visit India. Both accepted the invitations,” National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said during a media briefing after the meeting.

YSR Congress urges Congress, TDP to sign united AP resolution

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Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress today appealed to Congress and TDP to sign what it called a “one line resolution”, seeking a “united” Andhra Pradesh, to clear uncertainty and pacify sentiments of people from the Seemandhra region.

“The present crisis needs a political solution and if leaders of all political parties sign a one-line resolution in favour of a united state, the process of bifurcation can be stopped,” YSRCP deputy floor leader Sobha Nagi Reddy told reporters here today.

Amitabh in Jaipur for Maharani Padmani Devi’s birthday bash

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Superstar Amitabh Bachchan today attended the 70th birthday celebrations of Jaipur’s Maharani Padmini Devi at the City Palace here.

Bachchan arrived by a private plane today and is likely to stay here tonight, police sources said, adding that he will leave for Jodhpur tomorrow morning.

The actor’s visit is kept away from media.

Padmani Devi was born to erstwhile Maharaja Rajendra Prakash and Maharani Indira Devi of Sirmur in Hamachal Pradesh as the princess of Sirmur.