Month: December 2013

A.K. Ganguly should resign: Sushma Swaraj

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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj Monday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman A.K. Ganguly over allegedly sexually harassing a law intern.

“I strongly feel that Justice A.K. Ganguly should resign as chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission,” Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet.

“Not only Caesar’s wife but Caesar too must be above suspicion,” she added.

West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress has also demanded Ganguly’s resignation.

1984 riots: Order on Sajjan’s plea to drop witnesses on Dec 11

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A Delhi court today reserved its order on a plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar seeking to drop nine CBI witnesses in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which he and three others are facing prosecution.

District judge J R Aryan fixed December 11 for pronouncing the order after hearing arguments of the counsel for the CBI, accused and the victims.

The CBI had earlier said though the charge sheet pertains to killing of six persons but it was only restricting the charge relating to murder of Surjit Singh and not of other deceased persons in respect of whom the trial had already taken place.

Sri Lankan opposition criticises Manmohan Singh

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Sri Lanka’s main opposition Monday raised objections to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for reportedly accepting an invitation to visit the island nation’s Northern Province, Xinhua reported.

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran had invited Manmohan Singh to visit the minority Tamil dominated North, which was devastated by 30 years of war between Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lanka Army.

Sharif’s daughter attends her first meeting

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Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam today attended her first meeting, since her appointment as Chairperson of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, with her father and other top government officials in connection with a loan scheme for youth.

Sharif, who chaired the meeting said, the government’s loan scheme for youth would certainly change the lives of millions of people in the country.

He reiterated to ensure transparency, merit and equal distribution in loan schemes for the youth.

Modi’s call for debate on Article 370 triggers row

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BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s remarks on Article 370 Monday drew attacks from the Congress and the PDP while the BJP asserted that they did not signal softening of its stance on the constitutional provision giving special status to the state.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Modi’s suggestion for debate on the provision, saying the party was making an about turn and terming their stand “double speak”.

Biden heads to Asia amid tensions over China air zone

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US Vice President Joe Biden headed to Asia amid heightened tensions over China’s newly-declared air defense zone.

During a stop in Beijing, Biden will highlight “areas of concern, including regional tensions,” the White House said in a statement.

More broadly, the trip to Japan, China and South Korea was planned to emphasise Washington’s “enduring presence as a Pacific power… And underscore our commitment to rebalancing US foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific,” the statement added.

Special status to Telangana, residuary AP under Article 371-D

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The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is all set to recommend special status to both the states under Article 371-D of the Constitution and examining a proposal to include two districts of Rayalseema in Telangana.

The Group of Ministers is likely to propose that the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill should be named as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Bill, thus avoiding an amendment in the Constitution but allowing both the states to enjoy special status, official sources said.

Cong will win MP Assembly polls: Ajay Singh

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Leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Ajay Singh today expressed confidence that Congress will win the state elections.

“I have been saying all along that Congress would win these (Assembly) elections and there is no change in my stand,” Ajay told PTI here.

The leader said there were several factors behind his confidence about a Congress win in the polls, held in the state on November 25.

Geelani slams Modi’s nomination as PM hopeful

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Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has said Narendra Modi’s nomination as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate was a “blot” on democracy and secularism of the country.

“…Whatever happened in Gujarat in 2002, happened on his (Modi) orders and instructions.

“He is an ill-minded personality and is trying to spread communal fire in Jammu and Kashmir. His visit is a threat to the peace in the state,” Geelani said, addressing a rally in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district yesterday.

SP govt in UP is the best: Mulayam

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Mulayam Singh Yadav today termed the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh as the country’s best and asked the partymen to propagate good works done by it.

“The state government is the best one in the country. You all should propagate good works done by it for all segments of the society. We should won maximum number of seats in Loksabha polls”, Yadav said while addressing party workers here.

Mars Orbiter crosses Moon’s orbit

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ISRO’s Mars Orbiter spacecraft, which was placed in inter-Mars trajectory in the early hours of Sunday, has crossed Moon’s orbit of around 3.85 lakh km and is travelling beyond Earth’s natural satellite.

“The Mars Orbiter spacecraft has crossed the Moon orbit’s this morning. So technically after crossing Moon’s orbit of around 3,85,000 km, it is now travelling beyond the Moon. It has already crossed 5,36,000 km as of 5 pm today,” ISRO sources told PTI.

This is the first time an Indian-made object is being sent into deep space, they said.

Ukraine protesters dig in heels, PM condemns ‘signs of coup’

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Ukrainian protesters today blockaded government buildings and camped on Kiev’s central square, seeking to oust President Viktor Yanukovych after police brutality and a row over EU ties plunged the country into its worst political crisis in a decade.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said the protest bore “all the signs of a coup” as tens of thousands of demonstrators dug in their heels in the capital, occupying Kiev city hall and blockading the main government building.

Obama offers up to USD 5 billion to tackle AIDS

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US President Barack Obama has pledged up to USD 5 billion to fight HIV/AIDS as long as the rest of the world collectively offers double that amount.

Obama urged other countries to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as part of a White House event marking World AIDS Day which fell on Sunday.

Obama also announced a new plan to seek a cure for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, which will see USD 100 million go towards the development of therapies at the National Institutes of Health.

Salvage operation ends as Scotland helicopter is removed

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The search and recovery operation carried out after a police helicopter smashed through the roof of a Glasgow pub has concluded, with the final death toll standing at nine, police said.

Three people on board the helicopter were killed and six died in the Clutha pub, where around 120 people were watching a performance by a ska band when the aircraft plunged on to the building on Friday evening.

The craft was pulled free of the devastated building earlier yesterday.

Police in Scotland confirmed that all the bodies had been removed, but only five had been identified.

‘US for complete withdrawal for Afghanistan if BSA not inked’

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The US would start planning for a complete withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan after 2014 if the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) is not signed by the end of this month, the Pentagon said today.

At the same time the Pentagon indicated that it was flexible with the BSA signing date even as it wants it to be signed as soon as possible, reiterating that “zero option” is not its preferred choice.

US deal with Afghanistan crucial: NATO chief

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NATO’s secretary-general says the alliance won’t be able to deploy its non-combat training and advisory mission in Afghanistan after next year unless President Hamid Karzai agrees to a bilateral security agreement with the United States.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he hopes Karzai will sign the agreement needed for NATO to reach its legal framework for plans to assist Afghan forces after combat troops leave at the end of 2014.

Rasmussen’s comments Monday amounted to new pressure on Karzai a day before foreign ministers from NATO’s 28 member states meet in Brussels.

Syria rebels capture Christian town of Maalula: NGO

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Syrian rebels, including jihadist groups, have captured the historic Christian town of Maalula north of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Rebels assaulted the town by rolling explosive-filled tyres down the hills onto regime forces and were able to reach the city centre yesterday after three days of intense fighting, with clashes still raging in the surrounding areas.

Saudi Arabia hints OPEC oil output limit won’t change

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Saudi Arabia is satisfied with current crude prices as well as global supply and demand levels, its oil minister has said, indicating OPEC will freeze its output ceiling.

“The market is in the best position it can be,” Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters in Vienna ahead of a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries tomorrow to decide on production.

“Demand is great, economic growth is improving,” said Naimi, who represents the world’s biggest producer of crude oil.

US calls on China to scrap air zone procedures

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The United States has urged Beijing to scrap new aviation arrangements set up by its new air defense zone which Washington has denounced as confusing and likely to increase the risk of accidents.

“Our general position as a US government is that we don’t accept China’s requirements,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki reiterated.

NYC crash train nearly three times over speed limit: probe

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The New York commuter train which derailed at the weekend leaving four people dead was traveling at nearly three times the recommended speed limit when it hurtled off the tracks, federal investigators have said.

National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener said the train involved in Sunday’s accident in the Bronx had clocked 82 miles (131 kilometers) per hour as it entered a curve where the limit was 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour.

Tarun Tejpal shares lock-up with poachers

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From two murder accused he shared the room on the first night in the police lock-up, arrested Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal had four local men held on charges of poaching frogs and turtles as his cell mates on the second night.

The 50-year-old journalist, who is under six-day police custody, is lodged in the Panaji police lock up housed in an old Portuguese-era building.

Fake Twitter account of Pranab Mukherjee opened, then shut

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A fake account of President Pranab Mukherjee on social networking site ‘Twitter’ was found and shut as well as the competent authorities are planning legal action against those responsible for it.

The Twitter handle–PoIndia–was created by an unidentified person.

The account was claimed to be an official account of the President, official sources said today.

The matter was taken up with Twitter and the account was suspended quickly, they said.

“A proper inquiry would be conducted into it and the matter may be referred to police,” the sources said.

BJP wants Telangana bill to be passed in winter session

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The BJP Monday called upon the UPA government to bring a bill for creation of Telangana in winter session and get it passed. The party also wants passage of Lokpal bill.

The Bharatiya Janata Party conveyed its views at an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath Monday. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram were also present at the meeting.

The BJP leaders present at the meeting included L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad. The winter session of parliament begins Dec 5.

Modi can’t repeal Art 370 even if he becomes PM for 10 terms

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Amid a debate over special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah tonight said even if Narendra Modi becomes prime minister for “ten terms” he will not be able to repeal Article 370 of the constitution.

“Even if Modi becomes PM for ten times, he will not be able to do away with Article 370. You talk of debate, BJP does not indulge in any debate,” Farooq told reporters here.

“I am a 48 year old virgin, sleeps alone “: Salman Khan

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Bollywood superstar Salman Khan said, “I’m going to save myself for the one that I get married to.” He appeared on Karan Johar’s much talked about chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’ this Sunday. The ‘Dabangg’ Khan opened season 4 of Koffee and looked calm and composed as he let his guard down, getting candid with host and director Karan Johar.

After much attempt, Karan Johar finally managed to get Salman on his show and it turned out to be a cracker of an episode. The actor spoke about his love life, his impeding marriage and stated that he is a 48 year old virgin.