Month: January 2014

Mehr Tarar ‘absolutely shocked’ at Pushkar’s death

by

Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, at the centre of a raging controversy involving Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, on Friday said she was “absolutely shocked” to learn of his wife Sunanda Pushkar’s death. “What the hell. Sunanda. Oh my God,” Tarar, a 45-year-old Lahore-based journalist, said in a message posted on Twitter soon after news broke of Pushkar’s death this evening.

“I just woke up and read this. I’m absolutely shocked. This is too awful for words. So tragic I don’t know what to say. Rest in peace, Sunanda,” she said in another tweet.

Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose pictures on Congress stage

by

The stage at the AICC meeting at a stadium here featured pictures of Congress leaders, both past and present, including Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose.

Pictures of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi were placed together at the Talkatora stadium with those of former prime ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.

Sonia, Rahul laud Manmohan Singh’s ‘wise leadership’

by

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi Friday showered lavish praises on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the party adopting a resolution hailing his “wise leadership”.

Manmohan Singh, who has been leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for almost 10 years, has said he will not seek another term in office.

Sonia Gandhi, in her speech at the All India Congress Committee meeting here, said the prime minister had led the government “with great dignity” and had stayed focused on his goals despite “the irresponsible attitude of the opposition”.

UPA rule has harmed ICT industry: Modi

by

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Friday took a dig at the Congress-led government, saying the 2G scam affected the growth of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry in the country.

“The speed at which India was progressing in the ICT field was badly hurt by this incident. It is a challenge to recover from this,” Modi said at an ICT Business Awards ceremony organised by Cyber Media here.

“The industry which showed progress in the highest speed got the biggest jolt because of this incident,” he said.

US rules out any role for Syrian president in transition

by

US Secretary of State John Kerry Friday once again ruled out any role for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s future transition, as peace talks slated for next Wednesday will explore means to lead Syria into this process.

“If he thinks he’s going to be part of that future, it’s not going to happen,” the top American envoy told reporters in a joint appearance with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts at the State Department, Xinhua reported.

He added: “The bottom line is we are going to Geneva to implement Geneva 1.”

14 killed in Taliban attack in Kabul

by

At least 14 people were killed and four others injured in a Taliban coordinated attack at a restaurant frequented by foreigners in Afghanistan capital Kabul Friday night, police said.

Three gunmen armed with suicide bombs and guns were involved in the attack, a police source told Xinhua, adding the attack begun after one person detonated his explosive at the entrance of Lebanese Restaurant around 7:15 p.m.

Five killed as militants attack bus in Assam

by

At least five people were killed and two others injured when suspected militants of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) attacked a bus in Assam’s Kokrajhar district late Friday, police said.

The incident took place at Aathiabari Tiniali under Serfanguri police station. Commissioner (Home) G.D. Tripathy said that while five people were killed on the spot, two others were injured in the attack. Two more people were missing after the incident, he said.

Security cover at Tharoor’s Thiruvananthapuram office, home

by

After Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was found dead in a Delhi hotel Friday night, a security cover has been provided at his office and home here in Kerala.

Tharoor represents the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency and his office is located a stone’s throw from the state secretariat while his home is in a posh residential area.

As soon as reports came that Pushkar was found dead, the state police decided to put a security cover at both his office and home.

Obama offers changes to NSA’s domestic phone surveillance

by

US President Barack Obama Friday called for changes to the National Security Agency (NSA)’s controversial surveillance practices, including the bulk collection of US citizens’ phone records.

Speaking at the Justice Department, Obama outlined his plan to pull back some of the NSA’s surveillance programmes, seven months following the disclosures of the secret surveillance programmes by formal defence contractor Edward Snowden, Xinhua reported.

US surgeon general links smoking to more diseases

by

Acting US Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak expanded in his latest report the list of diseases caused by smoking, a warning that comes 50 years after the first official government document that associated tobacco with lung cancer.

The expanded list includes liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, age-related macular degeneration, erectile dysfunction and rheumatoid arthritis.

Syria’s neighbours call for humanitarian dimension at Geneva II

by

Syria’s neighbouring countries sheltering refugees Friday called on the international community to consider humanitarian dimension of the Syrian crisis at Geneva II peace conference.

“Geneva II cannot be indifferent to the humanitarian dimension of the Syrian conflict and dramatic suffering of the Syrian people,” Xinhua quoted the final declaration made at the second round of the Ministerial Meeting of Syria Bordering Countries.

Two students get shot at Philadelphia high school

by

Two students were shot at a high school Friday in Philadelphia, the US state of Pennsylvania, Xinhua reported citing local media.

The shooting took place at 3:20 p.m. at the Delaware Valley Charter School. The injured, a boy and a girl, were rushed to the Albert Einstein Medical Centre in the vicinity. They are both stated to be in stable condition.

The suspect was taken in police custody for the shooting, according to media reports.

–IANS

Aiyar advises Modi: Forget PM ambition, sell tea at AICC meet

by

In remarks that are likely to stoke a controversy, Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar on Friday mocked Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial ambitions and said a place will be identified for the Gujarat chief minister to distribute tea here.

“I promise you in 21st century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. …But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him,” Aiyar said at the venue of the AICC meeting.

PM speaks to Shashi Tharoor, condoles Sunanda’s death

by

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday night spoke to Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and condoled the death of the latter’s wife Sunanda Pushkar.

“I am deeply saddened at your loss. May God give you strength in this hour of grief”, Singh told Tharoor.

Sunanda Pushkar, who was upset over an alleged extra-marital affair between Tharoor and a Pakistani journalist, was found dead in a five-star hotel room.

Police said they did not suspect any foul play in Sunanda’s death and it may be a case of suicide.

Subsidized LPG cylinder quota to be increased to 12 per year

by

With Congress party vice president Rahul Gandhi making a strong pitch for raising LPG cap, oil minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday said the quota of subsidized cooking cylinders will be hiked to 12 from 9 per household.

“Yes, the cap will be increased,” Moily said soon after Gandhi made a demand to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the AICC session here.

Moily, who till last week had maintained that there was no proposal for raising the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders a household is entitled to in a year, said the decision will be announced after the Cabinet approves of it.

Dad’s diet, bodyweight during conception may contribute to obesity in offspring

by

A new study has suggested that children are more likely to have weight problems if their fathers are overweight at conception.

It was found that obese fathers cause altered gene expression in pancreas and fat of offspring, possibly leading to diabetes, obesity, chronic degenerative disease and premature aging

Research involving rats suggested that there is a biological link between paternal diet, bodyweight and health at the time of conception and the health of his offspring.

Sehwag, Gambhir out of T20 World Cup probables list

by

The All-India Senior Selection Committee on Friday did not include out of form openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the T20 World Cup 2014 probables list of 30 players.

The India probables for the men’s and women’s editions of the ICC World T20 2014 respectively, to be played in Bangladesh in March-April 2014, is as follows:

PROBABLES (MEN)

1. Shikhar Dhawan

2. Rohit Sharma

3. Virat Kohli

4. Suresh Raina

5. Ajinkya Rahane

6. Ambati Rayudu

7. M.S. Dhoni

8. Dinesh Kartik

9. Ravindra Jadeja

10. R. Ashwin

11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

12. Mohammed Shami

Shah Rukh Khan dedicates award to AbRam

by

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who loves to dedicate his awards to his children, just won an award and said it goes to his son AbRam.

The actor took to Twitter to share his happiness at receiving the award and also conveyed his gratitude to his company Red Chillies Entertainments for the VFX work that they did for superhero film `Krrish 3`.

“Third award of the season. Finally, got one for AbRam. Age does come before beauty so he had to wait. Also VFX killing it second year in a row,” he tweeted Friday.

Delhi Govt. to Shinde: ‘Will protest at Home Minister’s office if cops are not suspended’

by

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Friday said that the party delegation led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to suspend the police officers who had countered a government directive two days ago, and added that if erring cops are not suspended by Monday, the party would protest outside the Home Minister’s office.

“The policemen who did not fulfill their duties should be suspended immediately. If by Monday erring police officers are not suspended then we will sit on a ‘dharna’ demanding it,” he told media here today.

Subsidised LPG cylinder quota will be hiked to 12 per household: Moily

by

Union Petroleum Minister, Veerappa Moily on Friday announced that the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders will be hiked to 12 from 9 per household.

“Yes, the cap will be increased. The Cabinet will take a view (on it) soon,” he added.,” Moily said after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi made a demand to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the AICC meet here today.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi asked Manmohan Singh to increase the cap on subsidised cooking gas cylinders (LPG) from12 to 9 per household.

Yasin Bhatkal’s custody handed over to Karnataka police

by

A special NIA court on Friday allowed the plea by Karnataka Police and remanded Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal in its custody till January 28 in connection with the blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in April, 2010.

District Judge IS Mehta allowed the application in which Karnataka Police had sought Bhatkal’s custody for his alleged role in the blasts at Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2010, hours before an IPL cricket match between Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.

India should stop forced evictions of Muzaffarnagar riot victims: HRW

by

Indian authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh should immediately stop evicting people from camps who fled communal violence in September 2013, Human Rights Watch said today.

State authorities should conclude their investigations into riot-related crimes, including alleged sexual violence, and initiate appropriate prosecutions.

The central government should ensure that the Uttar Pradesh state authorities provide aid to the displaced, and their safe return or resettlement, in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law.

Assembly debate on AP Re-organisation Bill 2013 stirs passions

by

A detailed discussion on the draft AP Re-organisation Bill 2013 continued in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly here today, with members from Telangana welcoming and those from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposing it.

AP Legislative Affairs Minister S Sailajanath made a forceful pitch against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.