Month: October 2013

Govt relaxes norm for widows for getting family pension

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Widows will no longer have to present themselves before gazetted officers to verify their status for getting family pension.

The government has decided to do away with the requirement of submission of ‘Form 14’ for commencement of family pension where the pensioner and spouse hold a joint account.

This was informed by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions V Narayanasamy to members of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA), said a press release issued on Friday.

Pakistan says foreign hands behind terrorism in country

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The Foreign Office has said foreign hands cannot be ruled out in wave of terrorist attacks hitting Pakistan. In his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson, Aizaz Chaudhry said Pakistan is a hub of terrorism adding that it was a common issue in country and India.

CBI files chargesheet against 10 accused in corruption case

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CBI on Friday filed charge-sheet in a Delhi court against a private firm executive and nine others, including engineers of North Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Development Authority (DDA), in a corruption case relating to construction of an unauthorised building here.

IAF rejects ‘extravagant’ HAL basic trainer aircraft project

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Pushing for the procurement of a foreign basic trainer aircraft for its rookie pilots, IAF on Friday, however, rejected a similar indigenous plane being developed by HAL saying public money cannot be wasted on such “extravagant” projects.

The statement by Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne at the IAF Day press conference comes against the backdrop of a tussle between IAF and the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd over whether to procure an imported basic trainer aircraft or to develop it indigenously.

Imran backs military operation if peace talks with Pak Taliban fail

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has expressed support for a military operation against the Taliban if peace talks with the group failed. Imran earlier has been a staunch opponent of military operation against the militants and called for resolving the terrorism issue through dialogue. He said at a news conference that the entire nation would support an operation against the Pakistani Taliban if it were the last resort. According to the Daily Times, he said that talks are not done through media but in a planned way through proper channel.

Taliban commander claims to rule Afghanistan with ‘iron fist’ after NATO withdraws

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A senior Taliban commander has said that they will run Afghanistan after NATO leaves in 2015. In an exclusive interview with the Mirror at a secret hideaway in the Taliban’s stronghold between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Taliban commander Qari Nasrullah, adamantly said that the Taliban will once again rule Afghanistan with an iron fist and return to the dark days of strict Sharia rule once Nato troops quit.

Tim Burton caught kissing ` mystery blond woman ` after movie screening

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Tim Burton was spotted kissing a mystery blond woman outside a movie theater in London.

In the pictures obtained by a UK publication, the 55-year old American film director is seen in a compromising embrace with a mystery blond, who was not his long-term girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter, after a screening of ‘The Wicker Man’, the New York Daily News reported.

Sources revealed that the pair stopped in an alley after leaving the theater to kiss before making their way back to her car together.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood protesters march in Cairo

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Defying a crackdown, thousands of supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood marched through a Cairo suburb on Friday toward the site of their former protest camp that was crushed by security forces in August, a Reuters witness said.

Soldiers and policemen boosted their presence around Rabaa al-Adaweya mosque, the larger of the Brotherhood’s two former Cairo sit-ins, as the march approached, the state news agency reported.

`Conservative dress code` sparks underwear protest at Hungarian University

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Students at the University of Kaposvar attended their class wearing only their underwear as a mark of their protest against a harsh dress code decreed by the college head.

The rector of Kaposvar University had issued a to the students declaring that they must be adhered to the dress code when attending classes or exams from October 1, adding that “there is no place in the university for mini-skirts, flip-flops, heavy make-up, inappropriate fashion accessories, or unkempt fingernails and hair”, News.com.au reported.

Salman Khan joins Miss Universe Olivia Culpo for girl child awareness

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Salman Khan met Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and fashion designer Sanjana Jon to raise awareness for female infanticide and women empowerment in Mumbai.

The 21-year old American beauty pageant titleholder who is on her maiden visit to India said, “It’s so nice to come here with a cause of the girl child. It’s against female infanticide and for women empowerment”.

The 47-year old ‘Dabangg’ actor, who is known for his human deeds and is always the first to stand for social issues, also urged the nation to stop female infanticide. (ANI)

Russia ‘sorry’ Putin, Obama cannot meet

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The Kremlin is sorry the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama will not take place at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian leader, told reporters Friday.

“We are sorry the meeting will not take place,” he said, adding that bilateral relations needed a lot of summit-level meetings.

Peskov stated there were several issues, both bilateral and international, that needed to be discussed, the foremost one being the situation in Syria.

I am jobless and looking for the right script, says Irrfan Khan

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Irrfan Khan has revealed that he is currently jobless and busy only reading scripts.

The 46-year old National Award winning actor said, “Right now I am jobless and I am looking for some stories which I could choose. So I am reading few scripts and very shortly I will finalize something.”

The ‘Life of Pie’ actor has proved his expertise is several films and has been globally acclaimed for his outstanding performances. (ANI)

Britney Spears prefers `old school` videos to over-sexualized new video

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Britney Spears has revealed that she faced a lot of pressure to be over-sexualized in her new video, which was described as a “more adult” version of her pop self.

While talking to the ‘TJ Show’ on AMP 103.3 in Boston, the 31-year old American singer-songwriter said that she wishes she could take things back to when she first started out and videos were all about the singing and dancing, the Mirror reported.

Netherlands takes legal action against Russia

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The Netherlands has started a lawsuit against Russia over the arrests of 30 Greenpeace activists last month, Xinhua reported Friday citing local media.

Both countries will now start a procedure to find three judges or lawyers for a verdict in the case.

If this procedure does not work out, the Netherlands will go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg.

The Arctic Sunrise ship was boarded Sep 19 south of Nova Zembla by the Russian security personnel after protests on an Arctic oil rig owned by Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom.

Japan to intensify market plans in ASEAN, India

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The Japanese Government is eager to accelerate Japanese investment in ASEAN and India. At a conference titled “Cool Japan” recently held in Tokyo, more stress was laid down to promote and market the “Cool Quality” Japanese products in ASEAN and India.

Toshimasa Iue, CEO of LIXIL Global Company declared more positive and pro market investment. LIXIL is a top runner to make big overseas investment in the field of construction material and facility of residence. Recently, the company has announced its investment in European GROHE Group and ASD HD in USA.

Iranians still chant against US after prayers

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Iranians chanted “Death to America” and burned the US flag after weekly prayers in Tehran on Friday despite their new president’s outreach to the West and promises of moderation and easing of tensions with the outside world.

The chants, customary after Friday services in the Iranian capital, reflect the challenges facing President Hassan Rouhani as he tries to build on the groundbreaking exchanges with Washington that included a telephone chat last week with President Barack Obama a gesture aimed at ending three decades of estrangement between the two countries.

Opposition says govt. has created ‘near civil war’ situation in Andhra

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Several opposition leaders said on Friday that the UPA-II regime has created a civil war-like situation in Andhra Pradesh by going ahead with plans to create a separate state of Telangana.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha said that the Centre has mishandled the issue of statehood, and created a civil war-like situation in Andhra Pradesh. “Here they (the Centre) have created a near civil war situation in Andhra Pradesh by inept handling. This government has mishandled everything and the latest chapter in this mishandling is the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh,” Sinha said.

‘Confident’ Kejriwal says AAP will form next government in Delhi State

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that his party is all set to form the next government in the national capital as the people here are fed up of corrupt parties like the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“December 4 has been declared as the date for elections in Delhi, and it’s a day of judgement for the people of this country, because people are fed up of corruption and inflation, and the change will start from here,” he told media here today.

Most Israelis support Iran strike: Poll

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A majority of Israelis would support unilateral military action against Iran, according to a poll published on Friday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was ready to act alone.

Some 65.6 per cent of 500 Jewish Israelis surveyed by the pro-government Israel HaYom newspaper said they would support military strikes to halt Iran’s nuclear programme, and 84 per cent believed the Islamic republic had no intention of reining in its alleged drive to build a bomb.

Chandrababu Naidu to go on indefinite hunger strike to protest against Telangana

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Telugu Desam Party ( TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that he will go an indefinite hunger strike in the national capital, as part of his party’s protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. “I am going to Delhi on October 7.Will go on an indefinite fast against this decision on Telangana,” Chandrababu Naidu said here today.

Egypt clashes: One Muslim Brotherhood supporter killed

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Clashes erupted in several Egyptian cities on Friday after supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets to demand the end of army-backed rule, in defiance of a security crackdown.

An Egyptian army vehicle fired live rounds in the direction of Muslim Brotherhood supporters who had been pushed away from Cairo’s Tahrir Square by security forces, a Reuters witness said. Medical sources said one Brotherhood supporter had died from a gunshot wound in clashes in the center of the capital.

BJP confident of winning Chhattisgarh again, says Raman Singh

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Hoping for peaceful elections in the state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would definitely form the government again.

“BJP will form government in Chhattisgarh again. I also hope the elections will be peaceful. All our national leaders will be campaigning in the state,” he told media here today. Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath announced the polling dates for five states, including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram.

Raghuram Rajan reaffirms growth rate at 5.5 percent

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan on Friday said he had no reason to dispute the growth prediction of 5.5 percent, while also revealing that the Central Bank and the ruling government were in talks to ease interest rates.

“I think the last estimate that we made before there has been some news was 5.5 percent from the RBI. Government has said between 5 and 5.5 percent. I have no reason to dispute that even though some analysts are saying below 5,” he told media here today.

Pakistan may face sanctions over gas pipeline with Iran: US

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Pakistan could face tough US sanctions if it goes ahead with the multi-billion Iran-Pak gas pipeline, a top American diplomat has said.

The Obama Administration is having discussions in this regard with Pakistan, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Windy Sherman told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing.

“On Pakistan, we have had those discussions (on Iran-Pak gas pipeline) and will continue with the Pakistani government. My own assessment is it’s not going anywhere anytime soon,” Sherman told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.