Month: December 2013

Morsi supporters clash at Tahrir Square as constitution changes agreed

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The Egyptian police fired tear gas to disperse supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi from Tahrir Square in Cairo, as a panel amending the constitution adopted during his time in office agreed on text changes.

The revised charter preserves the military’s wide-ranging powers, including the ability to try civilians in certain cases.

According to the BBC, the 50-member panel completed a final draft after spending two days revising the charter adopted under Morsi.

Mumbai mastermind Saeed calls on Nawaz govt to stop construction of wall along LoC

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The leaders of the Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC), an umbrella coalition of more than 40 Pakistani Political and Religious parties, have said Pakistan should stop the construction of a concrete wall along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.

The DPC leaders also said that the government should play its role in stopping drone strikes in the country.

Speaking at a protest rally on The Mall on Sunday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Maulana Samiul Haq said America’s presence in the country should end.

India’s manufacturing PMI expands in Nov: HSBC

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India’s manufacturing sector activity witnessed an expansion in November for the first time since July, driven by rising new domestic orders, an HSBC survey said on Monday.

The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing industry climbed from 49.6 in October to 51.3 in November on the back of a rebound in new orders and output.

This was the first manufacturing PMI reading above 50.0 since July and is the highest in seven months.

The PMI reading of above 50 differentiates growth from contraction.

Joe Biden on delicate mission to defuse tensions in East Asia

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US Vice President Joe Biden will try to strike a delicate balance of calming military tensions with China while supporting ally Japan against Beijing on a trip to Asia this week that is being overshadowed by a territorial dispute in the East China Sea.

Aiming to counter criticism that the United States is neglecting Asia because it is distracted by domestic politics and the Middle East, the White House has long been planning a visit by Biden to Japan, China and South Korea.

UN rights chief condemns ‘shocking’ Bangladesh poll unrest

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United Nations rights chief Navi Pillay on Sunday said she was deeply worried by the “shocking” pre-election violence rocking Bangladesh, urging parties on both sides to peacefully resolve their differences over the January 5 polls.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also voiced concern about the detention of key opposition leaders in the unrest, which has killed 50 people since late October when the government first announced the date of the general elections.

Secret talks between Bangladeshi parties a bad joke: Daily

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A leading Bangladeshi daily Monday described as a “bad joke” a minister’s comment that the ruling Awami League (AL) and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were holding secret parleys.

“The communications minister’s comment that the two political parties are conducting political parleys secretly appears to us to be a bad joke. It is difficult to take him seriously, given the nature of politics that we have been witnessing in the last several weeks,” said an editorial in the Daily Star.

US senator blasts Karzai over refusal to sign deal

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The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee has strong words about Afghanistan’s president for refusing to sign an agreement governing the future of the American troop presence in his country.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she thinks Hamid Karzai (HAH’-mihd KAHR’-zeye) “is such a cipher.”

The California Democrat tells CNN’s “State of the Union” that Karzai is “so much the victim of what thought occurs to him right at the moment based on some anger that he feels about something that may not even be related.”

Two Bangladeshi ministers escape bomb attacks

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Two Bangladeshi ministers escaped unhurt when bombs were thrown at the convoy of one and at the residence of the other, media reports said Monday.

At least three crude bombs were hurled at the vehicle of Syed Ashraful Islam, the minister of local government, rural development and cooperatives, on the outskirts of Dhaka when he was on way to his constituency in Kishoreganj district, bdnews24.com reported. No one was injured in the attack.

Islam is also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League.

BJP asks government to provide relief to sugarcane growers

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In the wake of a sugarcane farmer committing suicide in Uttar Pradesh, BJP asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide necessary relief to cane growers in UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka and ensure that their previous dues are paid.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, party president Rajnath Singh said the crisis faced by sugarcane farmers has emerged due to “anti-farmer policies” of the government and its “insensitivity” towards the farming community.

The former Agriculture Minister alleged that in UP the sugarcane farmers have been forced to sell their crop at throwaway prices.

Cabinet meet on Telangana tomorrow, big decision likely

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A special meeting of the Union Cabinet has been called by the Centre on Tuesday to discuss the draft Telangana Bill and take a final call on the issue.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said that the meeting is specially being called to discuss the Telangana issue.

The special meeting is taking place ahead of the commencement of the Winter Session on December 5 and Shinde had said that the Telangana Bill will be introduced in the Parliament.

Delhi gang-rape: SC notice to Centre on criminal trial of juvenile convict

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The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the centre on a petition seeking to strike down the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act that bars criminal courts from trying juvenile offenders.

An apex court bench of Justice BS Chauhan and Justice SA Bobde issued notice after counsel Aman Hingorani told the court that under sections 82 and 83 of the Act, a magistrate being confronted with a juvenile accused only ascertains whether he is above or below 18 years and accordingly remands the matter to the Juvenile Justice Board or the trial court.

Tarun Tejpal shares lock-up with poachers in Goa

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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 on six-day police custody, is lodged in the Panaji police lock up housed in an old Portuguese era building.

Digvijay slams Modi over snoopgate

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Hitting out at Narendra Modi over snoopgate, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday said that the Gujarat government’s probe into the matter is like the accused deciding to investigate and sit in judgement and this shows his “most dictatorial” character.

Singh, a known detractors of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, has been taking on Modi ever since the scandal surfaced.

In his more than half-a-dozen tweets since November 20, Singh has castigated Modi over snoopgate and Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley for “defending snoopgate accused Modi and Amit Shah”.

Indian team leaves for South Africa

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India`s ODI cricket team, led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Monday departed for South Africa to compete in a three-match series starting December 5.

The ODI series commences on December 5 and ends with the third and final game on December 11 followed by a two-Test series from December 18 to 30.

The ODI squad comprises 16 members, including limited overs specialists Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohit Sharma and Amit Mishra, while the Test team is made up of 17 players.

Sikh soldiers want more Indians in US Army

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The US should change its policy to allow more Indian-Americans to join the military without compromising on their religious beliefs and practices, the only three Sikh soldiers in the US Army say.

Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Corporal Simran Preet Singh Lamba are the only three Sikhs serving in the US Army currently.

Having shattered stereotypes, the three have won awards and commendations for their service, including postings in Afghanistan.

44 million stars and galaxies mapped

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Astronomers have created a new catalogue of the universe that covers 35 per cent of the sky and includes 44 million stars and galaxies that have been seen at least twice.

This is the first time that tens of millions of stars and galaxies, among them hundreds of thousands that are unexpectedly fading or brightening, have been catalogued properly for the first time, researchers said.

China successfully launches its lunar probe

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The launch of China’s lunar probe Chang’e-3 was “successful”, the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre announced Monday.

Zhang Zhenzhong, director of the centre, made the announcement after the lunar probe entered the earth-moon transfer orbit and unfolded its solar panels.

Chang’e-3 lunar probe, aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket, blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China at 1:30 am Monday.

It is expected to soft-land on the moon in mid-December.

IANS

Soon, biomedical sensors to keep astronauts fit in space

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In an attempt to keep astronauts healthy in space, engineers from the Kansas State University are designing new tools and biomedical sensors for spacesuits.

The collaborative team, which includes electrical and computer engineering professors and over a dozen students, envisions a future spacesuit that could monitor astronauts’ health and use body heat to power electronics.

Bollywood veterans raising quality of TV shows: Samir Soni

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With actors like Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon, Poonam Dhillon are venturing into the fictional series, TV actor Samir Soni feels that the presence of noted film personalities will raise the bar of the shows.

“I don`t think they are getting into the space of TV actors…Not at all. In fact, I think they would hopefully raise the bar of performance and the quality of shows and inspire others to follow the suit,” Samir told PTI.

The actor feels television has grown a lot over the years and is one of the most influential medium.

Aditi Rao would prefer a small, intimate wedding

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Actress Aditi Rao Hydari prefers an intimate marriage ceremony over a big fat wedding.

Seen in films like `London Paris New York` and “Yeh Saali Zindagi`, she said: “I love intimate ceremonies where all the loved ones come together and have fun.”

“I have seen some of my friends getting married and they had the worst time at their own wedding. But when it is intimate, it is fun and the bride and the groom enjoy the most. That`s what I would want,” she added.

Aditi was speaking on the sidelines of the on going Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week here.

Is she in a relationship?

‘Bullett Raja’ fares decently at Box Office

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Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia`s latest offering `Bullett Raja` may have missed the target at the box office, but it did decent business by earning approximately Rs.12 crore to Rs.13 crore in two days of its release, say trade pundits.

The Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha-starrer came out Friday.

Rajesh Thadani of Multimedia Combines told IANS: “`Bullett Raja` is doing a decent business at the box office, but nothing great. The film has approximately collected Rs.12 crore to Rs.13 crore on Friday and Saturday.”

Staying active all day linked to healthy aging

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A generally active life, even without regular exercise sessions, was tied to better heart health and greater longevity in a study of older Swedes.

Based on nearly 3,900 men and women over age 60 in Stockholm, the study adds to evidence suggesting that just sitting around may be actively harmful, researchers say.

“We have known for 60 years that physical activity is important for the heart,” said lead author Elin Ekblom-Bak, of the Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm.

Pak govt reviving peace talks with Taliban

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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led government is at the “conclusive stage” of revival of proposed talks with the Pakistan Taliban, a senior minister has said.

“Yes, we’re (almost) at the conclusive stage to resume talks with the TTP,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid was
quoted as saying by the Express Tribune today.

“The government has always had a firm belief in reopening peace talks (with the Taliban),” he said.

His remarks came a week after Prime Minister Sharif said that his government is still committed to the revival of
proposed talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

New treatment helps people with spine injuries walk better

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Researchers have discovered a promising new treatment that can help people suffering from spinal cord injuries walk better.

Study author Randy D. Trumbower, with Emory University in Atlanta, said that about 59 percent of all spinal injuries are incomplete, leaving pathways that could allow the spinal cord to change in a way that allows people to walk again.

The research involved 19 people with spine injuries between levels C2 and T12, no joint shortening, some controlled ankle, knee, and hip movements, and the ability to walk at least one step without human assistance.

Modi lacks constitutional knowledge: PDP

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Slamming Narendra Modi over his demand for a debate on Article 370, PDP today said the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate lacks constitutional knowledge and his remarks can create fissures in Jammu and Kashmir.

PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said Article 370 providing special status to Jammu and
Kashmir has gained a permanent status after the constitutional assembly of the state approved it and can not be scrapped.

“Article 370 is permanent and can not be scrapped. Even Parliament is not constitutionally mandated to review or scrap
it,” Sayeed said here.