Month: October 2013

Asian Development Bank cuts Asia growth forecast on weakening Indian, Chinese economies

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut its economic growth forecast for Asia, citing weakness in region’s two largest economies China and India.

The bank added that concerns over the United States scaling down a key stimulus measure, the quantitative easing (QE) programme, will also affect the region”s growth. Speculation over the US scaling back the programme has seen many investors pull out money from the region, the BBC reports.

Pakistan to release four Indian prisoners

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Pakistan is set to release four Indian prisoners languishing in different jails in the country on charges of ‘illegal stay’.

Dil Bagh Singh, Sunil and two other Indians have completed their terms, but are still being held in jail. According to the Daily Times, an Interior Ministry official informed a review board comprising two judges of the Supreme Court that the government is taking steps to repatriate the prisoners who had completed their sentences. (ANI)

Pakistan army denies Indian allegations of Pakistani troops involved in LoC clash

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The Pakistan army has denied Indian accusations that Pakistani soldiers were involved in a reported clash on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC).

An Indian army commander had alleged that Pakistani troops were involved in an ongoing gunbattle near the disputed border. According to Dawn News, the Pakistan Army rejected the allegation as completely baseless. The army said that it was a blatant lie and no such thing happened, a spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s public relations wing, said in a text message.

Frank Sinatra, not Woody Allen may have fathered Mia Farrow’s son

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Mia Farrow has claimed that Frank Sinatra might be the father of her son, Ronan Farrow, instead of Woody Allen.

Farrow has finally addressed the years of speculation, which arose due to the striking similarities between her son and Sinatra, the Mirror reported.

The ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ actress told Vanity Fair that Sinatra was her life’s great love, and that they never really split up.

Liz Hurley launches breast cancer awareness month at Bloomingdale’s

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Elizabeth Hurley has helped Estee Lauder to kick off the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Bloomindale’s recently.

Hurley, who lost her grandmother to the disease, told the New York Daily News that when Evelyn Lauder, the late founder of the pink ribbon, told her that women all over the world are dying due to breast cancer and nobody is talking about it, it struck a chord with her.

The 48-year-old, who is reportedly dating former Australian cricketer Shane Warne, said that her grandmother didn’t tell anyone for two years after she found her tumor.

Mike Gatting says fighting corruption one of modern cricket”s `biggest challenges`

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Former England captain Mike Gatting has said that fighting corruption is one of the biggest challenges that modern cricket is facing today.

Gatting, who played 79 Tests in before his retirement in 1995 having scored 4,409 runs at an average of 35.55, is also notorious for courting controversy twice, once because of the Shakoor Rana incident in 1987 and then due to his role in the rebel tours of South Africa in 1990.

‘We`re not done yet’, al Shabaab says after Kenya mall massacre

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Terrorist group al Shabaab has reportedly threatened to carry out more attacks after the bloody massacre at Westgate mall attack left 67 people dead and dozens injured.

‘We”re not done yet’ was the message that the terror group gave to Kenya. According to CNN, in the coming days, members of Parliament are expected to grill intelligence officials to find out more about how the attack occurred.

NSA chief admits trying to track American citizens’ phone locations

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The National Security Agency (NSA) chief Gen. Keith B. Alexander has reportedly admitted that his spy agency tried to test whether they could locate Americans’ phone location, apart from snooping on their web and phone data.

Alexander said that the agency did try once in 2010 and 2011, to track Americans’ cellphone locations, but added that the NSA does not use that capability and left it to the FBI to build a criminal or foreign intelligence case against a suspect and track him.

NSA chief claims Obama administration `overstated` counterterrorism success figures

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The National Security Agency (NSA) chief, Gen. Keith B. Alexander has reportedly admitted that the government administration hugely overstated that agency’s counterterrorism successes through the vast collection of Americans’ phone records.

Gen. Alexander admitted that the number of terrorist plots foiled by the NSA’s huge database of every phone call made in or to America was only one or perhaps two, far smaller than the 54 originally claimed by the administration.

US editor blames single mothers for declining newspaper industry

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A newspaper editor in the US believes that single mothers are responsible for the decline of the newspaper industry.

In an opinion piece, Chris Powell, the managing editor of Connecticut”s Journal-Inquirer, explains that newspapers can be sold to traditional nuclear families, but they don”t appeal to the modern types of family unit in modern America, which according to him, constitute single mothers.

Paris restaurant creates `mighty burger` to honour Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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A restaurant in the French capital has reportedly created a mighty burger, costing almost 30 euros, in honour of Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 600-gram burger is reportedly layered with onions, bacon and three types of cheese, cheddar, Emmental and Auvergne blue, in a specially constructed bun. According to Metro.co.uk, Jean-Philippe Grandin, the owner of Doddy”s Cafe in the Parisian suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, said that he wanted to create an ”exceptional” burger, named ”Le Zlatan”, which stood out in the crowd in the image of his hero Ibrahimovic.

Abdur Razzak recalled to Bangladesh Test squad for first Test against Kiwis

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Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak has reportedly been recalled to the Test squad for the first Test against New Zealand in Chittagong, ending his two-year absence from the Test team.

The left-armer played the last of his nine Tests in August 2011, even though he has been a regular member of the limited-overs side for the past few years.

BSF seizes 19 kilograms of heroin in Punjab

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Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Punjab”s Taran Tarn District have seized 19 kilograms of suspected heroin worth million of rupees in the international market and arrested four smugglers.

The BSF”s Inspector-General (IG) of Police (Border Range) Ishwar Chandra said the arrested drug runners had links with smugglers in Pakistan.

The government is trying to ascertain the scale of production and smuggling of drugs like cannabis, heroin and illegal pharmaceuticals in the country.

Palestinian Council legalizes `online dating` with restrictions

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The Palestinian Authority”s Supreme Fatwa Council has reportedly legalized online dating; however, such sites and its users need to abide by the moral standards and Shariah’s rules.

The council stated that the Internet had become an ‘unavoidable’ medium, and the decision is expected to open new dating channels for Muslim Palestinians.

Palvai warns APNGOs not to let loose tongue

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Rajya Sabha member Palvai Govardhan Reddy today warned APNGOs leader P Ashok Babu of dire consequences if he spoke as he liked against the people of Telangana.

Speaking to mediapersons at the CLP conference hall, Palvai said creation of separate Telangana State was inevitable on any day and the decision has been taken much before. He said the CWC decision was awaiting Cabinet nod. (NSS)

Microsoft reveals furnishing data on 1462 users to Oz govt. in first half of 2013

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Microsoft has revealed that it gave out data on 1462 accounts to the Australian government in the first half of 2013.

The company’s second transparency report indicated that the government authorities made 1219 requests related to the accounts between January and June, and the company granted 86 percent of the total requests made.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Microsoft granted 1050 requests and gave related information such as email addresses, names, locations and internet protocol (IP) addresses.

None can stop T state at this stage: Jana reddy

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Senior Congress leader from Telangana and Panchayati Raj Minister K Jana Reddy today made it clear that nobody could stop formation Telangana State at this stage.
Speaking to the media here on Thursday, Jana Reddy said all Congress leaders were bound to abide by the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Telangana. He also opined that it was not proper for Seemandhra leaders to obstruct process of creation of Telangana State instead of suggesting solutions to the problems.

iMessage users facing glitch after updating to iOS7

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Apple fans who updated their smartphones to iOS7 system are reportedly facing issues while sending or receiving messages through iMessage feature.

Apple’s Trudy Muller said that the company is aware of the issue affecting a fraction of a percent of their iMessage users, and they will have a fix available in an upcoming software update.

Muller further asked users to refer to the troubleshooting documents or contact AppleCare to help resolve their issue, ABC News reports.

Why CBI chief called on Digvijay?, Asks TDP chief

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TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu today said he wanted to know why Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director called on AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Affairs Digvijay Singh. Was Singh master of the CBI?, he questioned while talking to the media at his party headquarters here.

High Alert in State following Telangana note

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The state police was been put on high alert by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the likelihood of Telangana note coming up before the Union Cabinet meeting this evening.
The state police administration was directed by the Union Home Ministry to remain vigilant and step up security measures in Telangana as well as Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions in view of the high speed developments in the national capital on the T formation process.