Month: March 2014

AAP will win 100 seats, says Kejriwal

by

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal asserted Sunday that his year-old party will win around 100 seats in the Lok Sabha election and its support will be indispensable in government formation.

“The AAP will win at least 100 seats. Moreover, we are going to get more seats than the Congress,” the former Delhi chief minister told an election rally here.

“At least, no government will be formed without the AAP’s support,” he said, looking confident.

Kejriwal also questioned Gujarat’s model of development and its Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.

No change in BJP’s stand on FDI in retail: Jaitley

by

Against the backdrop of speculation about Narendra Modi’s comments suggesting a rethink on the FDI policy, BJP today said their opposition to FDI in retail will not change.

As far as FDI in retail is concerned, the BJP has genuine concerns against this and I don’t think, it is quite
likely, that policy is going to be changed,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told Karan Thapar on
his Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN-IBN.

As far as present is concerned, I think it is quite unlikely that the BJP will change,” he said noting that for

Connery says Scottish independence a chance ‘too good to miss’

by

James Bond star Sean Connery urged his fellow Scots today to vote for independence in their referendum later this year, saying it was an opportunity “too good to miss”.

The 83-year-old actor, one of the most high-profile backers of the Scottish National Party’s campaign for a ‘yes’
vote in September, said independence would raise Scotland’s profile.

This could encourage more investment in the Scottish film sector and lead to the “international promotion of Scotland as an iconic location”, Connery wrote in the Sun on Sunday newspaper.

Pope hopes dialogue can prevail in Ukraine

by

ope Francis is urging world leaders to promote dialogue as a way of resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

Speaking to thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square during his traditional Sunday midday appearance, he said: “I
am making a heartfelt appeal to the international community:

Support every initiative for dialogue and harmony.”

Francis urged all segments of Ukrainian society to work together to overcome their misunderstandings and build a
future together.

Russian forces have effectively seized control of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula after months of anti-government

Lalu sticks to 11-seat offer to Congress

by

Sticking to his offer of 11 Lok Sabha seats to Congress and one to NCP, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today appealed to Sonia Gandhi to agree to the seat-sharing formula asserting that he would deliver results in Bihar and Jharkhand in the general elections.

Through you (media), I appeal to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, to agree to 12 seats being offered to the
Congress and NCP in Bihar, and leave it to me to deliver the results in Bihar and Jharkhand in the general elections,” he told reporters here.

Nepal police chief visits India

by

The head of Nepal Police today embarked on an official visit to India during which he will discuss with top Indian officials ways to curb terrorism and cross-border crimes.

Inspector General of Police Upendra Kanta Aryal will call on India’s Home Secretary and meet high ranking officials like the Delhi Police chief, CBI chief and BSF chief, Nepal Police spokesperson Ganesh KC said.

Aryal is also scheduled to meet the chiefs of Patna and Lucknow police during the six-day visit.

5 Indians among 11 foreigners killed in blast in Qatar

by

Five Indians were among 11 expatriates killed in a deadly blast at a Turkish restaurant here inQatar’s capital.

The blast tore through the Turkish restaurant, which is attached to a mall in Doha and next to a petrol station on
Thursday, killing 11 people, five of them Indians.

Qatar government has announced a probe into the explosion that also injured 35 people.

The Indian victims have been identified as Riyas Kizhakemanolil, Abdul Saleem Palangad, Zakaria Padinjare
Anakandi, Venkatesh and Shaikh Babu, The Peninsula reported.

Parties rework poll strategies on division of AP

by

With the division of Andhra Pradesh a reality now, political parties in the state are redrawing their strategies with the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections looming.

President’s rule was imposed in Andhra Pradesh as Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and also a number of Congress MLAs quit their posts and party in Seemandhra in protest against state’s division.

Riding the formation of Telangana, the ruling Congress is hoping to make substantial gains in the region which has 17 Lok Sabha and 119 assembly segments.

Owaisi challenges Modi to contest from Hyderabad

by

MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday challenged BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest from Hyderabad Lok Sabha in next elections.

Addressing a meeting at Darulsalaam on the occasion of MIM’s 56th anniversary, Owaisi said that Modi’s popularity was a nothing but hype being created by the Sangh Parivar to polarise the elections. He said if Modi was so confident about his popularity, then he must contest and win from Hyderabad to test his real worth. He also claimed that MIM was unbeatable in Hyderabad and no political party has a candidate to contest against MIM.

Dacoits decamp with valuables worth over Rs ten lakh

by

Dacoits broke open the wall of a co-operative society and decamped with valuables worth Rs 10.38 lakh at Ainapur, nine km from here, police said today.

The incident took place last night and valuables include gold ornaments,” police said.

Investigations are on, they added.

———————PTI

India make 245/8 against Pakistan

by

Put in to bat, India made 245 for 8 against Pakistan in their Asia Cup match here today.

Brief Scores:

India: 245 for 8 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 56, Ambati Rayudu 58, Mohammed Hafeez 2/38, Mohammad Talha 2/22).

———————-PTI

Mulayam attacks Modi on 2002 ‘carnage’

by

In a stinging attack on Narendra Modi, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today alleged BJP was trying to hoodwink Muslims by talking of apology after “having allowed their carnage” in 2002 and dismissed as “baseless
propaganda” Gujarat Chief Minister’s development claims.

Hitting back at Modi for his taunt that Mulayam could not make UP as prosperous as Gujarat as the feat required “a

‘US pressurising Israel to end targeting Iranian N-scientists’

by

The US is reportedly pressurising Israel to stop targeted killings of top Iranian nuclear scientists, a number of whom have been mysteriously killed, to give diplomatic negotiations with Tehran a chance to succeed.

The issue could come up during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Barack Obama in
Washington tomorrow, according to a CBS News report.

Written by CBS Radio correspondent Dan Raviv the report claims that “Israel’s espionage agency, the Mossad, ran an
assassination campaign for several years aimed at Iran’s top nuclear scientists”.

Raje govt to allot 30,000 new domestic power connections

by

The Rajasthan government will soon allot 30,000 new domestic power connections under the ‘Chief Minister Power for All’ programme.

Out of these 30,000 connections, 15,000 would be allotted in Jodhpur Discom alone, an official release said today.

The details about the new connections were devised by Rajasthan Power Minister G S Khinvsar and announced in ‘Field Engineers Conference’ held yesterday.

The conference was also attended by Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje.

Raje emphasized on speeding up the grievance redressal mechanism and making it more consumer friendly.

Govt earmarks Rs 3.6cr incentives for electronic manufacturers

by

To provide impetus to electronics sector, the government has earmarked cash incentives worth Rs 3.59 crore for manufacturers, over the period of three years.

There will be national awards in ESDM (Electronic System Design & Manufacturing) sector to encourage and recognise
companies doing well in the field of manufacturing. It will be held every year. Initial outlay is about Rs 3.59 crore for 3 years,” DEITY Joint Secretary Ajay Kumar told PTI.

Suspected IM activist held in connection with Bodh Gaya blasts

by

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) activist in connection with Bodh Gaya serial blasts from a village in Bihar’s Arwal district, police said today.

Acting on a tip off, the NIA team arrested the suspected IM activist Md Irfan from Auwgila village late last
night, Superintendent of Police (SP) Shafi-Ul Haque said.

Immediately after his arrest, the NIA team took Irfan to Patna in a vehicle under tight security for questioning in
connection with the Bodh Gaya serial blasts, the SP said.

1 killed, 1 injured while making firecrackers

by

One person was killed and another seriously injured in an explosion while preparing firecrackers in Puri district of Odisha today.

The duo were making firecrackers at Arei village under Chandanpur area when the crackers went off killing one
of them and leaving the other injured, Inspector In-Charge of Chandanpur police station, Girija Patnaik said.

The injured has been taken to the Puri district headquarter hospital.

The asbestos structure in which the crackers were being prepared has been severely gutted in the explosion,
police said.

——————-PTI

Mercury dips in Rajasthan, Mount Abu shivers at 3 degree C

by

After continuous rains and hailstorm in some parts of the state in last three days, mercury again dipped by three to four degree Celsius as Mount Abu shivered at 3 degree Celsius, MeT department said today.

Mercury plummeted by three to four degree Celsius at many places in north west parts due to rains and hailstorms that
hit the state last week, a MeT official said.

Mount Abu again recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degree Celsius compared to five degree below normal last night.

Silver ornaments, cash stolen from temple in Jaipur

by

Ten silver “chhatra” (umbrella), A silver glass and Rs 6,500 cash was looted by unidentified persons from a temple in Ramnagar area, police said today.

The robbery took place at Adarsh Mandir here on Friday night when the robbers broke open the temple’s lock, police
said, adding, a sum of Rs 6,500 put in a donation box was also taken along with other items.

A FIR has been registered in this connection and investigation into the case is on, they said.

—————————-PTI

Delhi hotels one of the worst-rated in world

by

Hotels in Delhi are considered as one of the worst in the world as per the trivago Reputation Ranking of 100 destinations which places them in the 90th position, while those in Mumbai have fared better.

The ranking is based on over 82 million reviews compiled by trivago from over 200 online booking websites.

Trivago is the world’s largest online hotel search site which compares rates at over 700,000 hotels on over 200
booking sites worldwide.

TRS meet tomorrow to decide on merger or alliance with Cong

by

Amid suspense whether TRS would merge with Congress or forge an alliance, a crucial meeting of the regional party would be held tomorrow to take a call on the issue.

The joint meeting of TRS politburo, MLAs and state executive would be held at the party office here to deliberate
on the political strategy for the future.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of the ties between the two parties running into rough weather with the TRS taking exception to the Congress “poaching” on its leaders.

Asia Cup: Pakistan win toss, elect to bowl against India

by

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bowl against India in their Asia Cup match here today.

India have brought in Amit Mishra to replace Stuart Binny.

Pakistan have also made one change to their side, including pacer Mohammad Talha for Anwar Ali.

Teams:

India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami.

India home to 70 billionaires; Mukesh Ambani richest Indian

by

India is home to the fifth largest group of billionaires in the world and Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is the country’s richest man with a personal fortune of USD 18 billion, says a report.

According China-based research firm Hurun’s 2014 global rich list, Mukesh Ambani was ranked 41st in the list that was topped by Bill Gates, whose personal networth stood at a whopping USD 68 billion.

Other noted Indians in the list include Lakshmi N Mittal ranked 49th with a personal net worth of USD 17 billion.

Sahara case: Sebi foxed by ghost investors; seeks foreign help

by

As Sebi sifts through “hopelessly mixed up” documents submitted by Sahara, chances remain very low of finding genuine investors and the market regulator suspects it to have provided details of mostly “ghost or fictitious” investors.

Making things worse, there has been a considerable delay in response from central agencies and state governments from whom Sebi has been seeking assistance for attaching Sahara group properties for almost a year, sources said.