Month: December 2013

Delhi shivers at 2.4 degrees, season’s coldest day

by

The national capital on Monday shivered at 2.4 degrees Celsius, five notches below the average for this time of the year. It was the season’s coldest day. The weatherman has forecast similar weather on New Year’s eve.

While the maximum temperature on Monday was 19.7 degrees Celsius, one notch below average, the minimum dipped well below Sunday’s temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius.

Monday also recorded light rainfall in the evening, which brought down the temperature. More rain and cloudy weather is expected Tuesday.

Khans, Bachchans to celebrate New Year with family

by

Bollywood celebrities have put on their party shoes as they plan to bring in the New Year at exotic locations while some others would be performing shows.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be bringing in the New Year at Phuket in Thailand, with his family.

Noted actor Aamir Khan, who is basking in the success of the recently released ‘Dhoom 3’, is in Panchgani along with his family.

Salman Khan is likely go to his Panvel farmhouse with family and friends to usher in the New Year.

Abhishek Bachchan, his wife Aishwarya Rai and daughter Aaradhya will be in Dubai on New Year.

BJP should have formed minority govt in Delhi, says Shiv Sena

by

Conceding that Aam Aadmi Party, under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, performed a miracle in the recent Assembly polls, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said ally BJP should have formed minority government in Delhi.

“BJP got 32 seats. They could have formed a minority government. We feel that it would have been nice had they done so,” Uddhav said.

“If AAP government is able to provide free water and power at concessional rate, it would be said that the same was possible for the BJP government too,” he said, in an editorial in his party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ here.

Three metro stations to close early on December 31

by

In view of security restrictions, entry and exit from three key Metro stations – Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk – will be closed at 7.30 pm on December 31, an official statement said.

“Sale of tickets at the above three Metro stations will stop at 7.15 pm and shutters of all entry gates will be closed at 7.30 pm,” said the statement.

However, interchange facility between the HUDA City Centre-Jahangirpuri line, and the Dwarka Sector 21-Noida City Centre/Vaishali line will remain operational at Rajiv Chowk Metro station till 11 pm.

Regime change won’t affect India-Pakistan ties: Bashir

by

Declining to comment on the prospect of the BJP’s Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister, outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir Monday said any regime change in India would not affect bilateral ties.

“We respect every leader, every political party, and it being India’s internal matter, we don’t have an opinion on that. The common denominator is the people of India. Therefore our reach out is to the people,” Bashir told media persons here when asked to give his views about Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.

‘Aishwarya Rai’ in Chhattisgarh village’s voter list

by

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is the native of Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district if the electoral roll in Ghughri village in Pathalgaon is to be believed.

The Bollywood star’s name figures in the voter list of Ghughri village which falls under Pathalgaon Assembly constituency. The accompanying photo makes it clear that it is not some namesake, but Mrs Abhishek Bachchan herself, Jashpur Collector L S Ken said today.

Vodafone gets FIPB nod to raise stake in India arm

by

UK-based telecom player Vodafone’s Rs 10,000 crore proposal to buy out minority shareholders in its Indian arm was today approved by the FIPB.

Vodafone’s Rs 10,141 crore FDI proposal has been cleared, sources said after the meeting of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) here.

The telecom major, which holds a 64.38 per cent stake in the Indian unit, will buy remaining outstanding shares from minority shareholders like Ajay Piramal and Analjit Singh.

South Africa clinch series 1-0 after Indian batting collapse

by

India crashed to a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the second cricket Test after their young batsmen surrendered meekly to give South Africa a 1-0 series triumph in Jacques Kallis’ farewell match, here today.

Needing to bat out the entire fifth day’s play at the Kingsmead to force a draw, the Indians had the worst possible start by losing Virat Kohli in the very first ball and never really recovered from the jolt to be bundled out for 223.

GHMC Demolishes Illegal building of Jagan’s uncle

by

As per the direction from the High Court, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Monday demolished the building constructed by Ravindranath Reddy, who was former Mayor of Kadapa and maternal uncle of YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

The High Court gave the direction for demolition of the building following a petition alleging that the building was constructed after encroaching the land of the society.

The officials of GHMC carried out the HC order for demolition of the building amid tight security. (NSS)

Naidu assures to make farm Sector profitable

by

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu today said agricultural sector would be made profitable if his party was voted back to power in next elections.
Speaking after unveiling a statue of NTR at Tangaturu centre here, Naidu said nobody can have a stature of late NTR today or tomorrow. He is the man who dared leaders of Congress at Delhi.

Cyber Cheat held for duping a Woman

by

One Rajendran Parthasarathy, 24, a native of Tamil Nadu, was arrested by Cyber Crime Police, on Monday in connection with a “Job offer fraud” case.

Cyber Crime Police stated that one Nagamanisri of Alwyn Colony, Kukatpally has complained that she was cheated by the accused, who promised to provide a job in IBM and collected Rs 80,000. Police said the complainant was e-mailed a fake offer letter, subsequent to her clearing a telephonic interview from IT firm IBM’s official fixed-line (No.040-66596000). On verification with IBM authorities, she found the offer letter to be fake.

Jaitley should place evidence against Virbhadra Singh in public domain: Congress

by

Reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley’s allegation against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the Congress on Monday said the BJP has always been on a witch-hunt against the latter and said if Jaitley has some evidence, then he should place it in public domain Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, “In the past, the BJP government in Himachal instituted a large number of inquiries against Virbhadra Singh, and at the end, nothing came out of those inquiries.

India lose Durban Test to South Africa by 10 wickets

by

South Africa beat India by 10 wickets in the second test that was played at the Kingsmead Ground here on Monday. Chasing just 58 runs for a win, the Proteas scored 59 for no loss to seal the two-match series one nil. For the South Africans, openers Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen scored unbeaten knocks of 27 and 31 respectively on the fifth and final day of the Test. Earlier, India, resuming on their overnight score of 68 for the loss of two wickets, could not stand up to the Proteas bowling attack, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Delhi Education Minister to set up helpline for parents

by

Public works Development, Urban Development and Education development minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said that he will set up a helpline, which will be in direct contact with education ministry. “People face many problems while getting nursery admissions for their children. Where are they supposed to go for that?

BBC computer server ‘was controlled’ by Russian hacker

by

BBC, the world’s largest and oldest broadcaster, reportedly fell victim to a Russian hacker who tried to sell access to the system to other cyber criminals over Christmas.

The hacker, claimed to be Russian, took over a BBC server and launched a Christmas Day campaign to convince other cyber criminals to pay him for access to the system.

However, BBC’s security team reportedly secured the site on Saturday.

A BBC spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the reports, saying: “We do not comment on security issues.”

Finance Ministry to take action against service tax defaulters

by

Finance Ministry has invited service tax from all citizens who haven”t paid their dues since 2007, and has warned that stern action will be taken against tax evaders after the payment scheme finishes on January 1 . Advertising it as the final call to ”come clean”, the Customs and Federal Excise department started a ”Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme” (VCES) for service tax defaulters.

JC to leave congress if state divided or not

by

Anantapur Congress leader and MLA J C Diwakar Reddy today made another sensational comment saying that he would not be in the Congress whether the State was bifurcated or not.

Talking to the media at Anantapur, JC declared that he would not continue in the Congress party whether Andhra Pradesh was divided or not and he will announce his future course of action after January 31. He also claimed various political parties have been inviting him because of his “guts to win any election”.
TG STILL OPTIMISTIC OF UNITED AP

Cong. Willfully delaying T, says TDP leader

by

Telangana TDP senior leader and MLA Revanth Reddy today alleged that the Congress was deliberately prolonging formation of Telangana State in the name of consultations and talks.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, Revanth Reddy said if formation of Telangana was realized, TRS should merge with Congress. He also asked whether Kalwakuntla Tarakarama Rao, son of TRS supremo K Chandrasekhara Rao, did not embrace Samaikhyandhra leader and Union minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao at Sircilla.

Lok satta considering amendments to AP reorganization bill

by

The Working Committee of the State Lok Satta Party began its two-day session here today to finalize its stand on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, 2013, coming up for discussion in the Legislature on January 3.
The Working Committee is considering amendments the party should move to the Bill to safeguard the interests of the three regions in the State. It is also discussing alternative solutions like carving out Rayalaseema also as a separate State and extending it special economic status provided to most backward States.

Ensure passage of T bill in Assembly, Parliament: BJP

by

BJP senior leader and former Union minister Ch. Vidyasagar Rao today said the Congress government should ensure passage of A P State Re-organisation Bill 2013 in Parliament and State Assembly.
Talking to the media at Karimnagar on Monday, Vidyasagar Rao strongly condemned tearing of copies of T Bill by Seemandhra members after it was moved in the Assembly.
The former Union minister said if any member involved in such an act in foreign countries, they would be sent out of the Assembly and the same should be implemented in our country. (NSS)

IAF has made significant gains in capability: Air chief

by

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has made significant gains in its capability enhancement plans, its chief N.A.K. Browne said Monday.

Air Chief Marshal Browne said streamlined induction and speedy operation of new assets had afforded the force “unprecedented response capabilities”.

Browne, who is retiring from service Tuesday, said IAF’s prompt and cohesive response after the Uttarakhand floods helped save many lives and the achievement must serve as a matter of pride and inspiration for all its personnel.

HC strips Mohan babu, Brahmanandam of Padmasri titles

by

The Andhra Pradesh High Court today directed the authorities concerned to remove title “Padma Sri” prefixed before the names of “Denikaina Ready” film producer Mohan Babu and comedian Brahmanandam. The court also directed the film actors (Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam) to submit their affidavits as to why they used the title before their names for that film.

However, the High Court adjourned the case to a future date on the hearing whether to seize their titles or not. (NSS)