Month: March 2014

Cong LS nominee threatens to chop Modi into pieces, booked

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Stoking a controversy, a Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Uttar Pradesh today threatened to “chop” Narendra Modi “into pieces”, a remark that led to an FIR being filed against him by police besides sparking an outrage.

Congress distanced itself from the remark by Imran Masood, who is contesting from Saharanpur, saying it abjures violence whether of language or otherwise while BJP condemned it as inflammatory and dragged Congress President Sonia Gandhi into the controversy. The BJP also demanded strict action against Masood by the Election Commission.

Amole Gupte’s films touch emotional chord, says Sridevi

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Actress Sridevi today praised the ‘Taare Zameen Par’ fame filmmaker Amole Gupte, saying that his films touch emotional chord.

Sridevi was speaking during a launch of the trailer of Amole Gupte’s next film ‘Hawaa Hawaai’.

“Everyone associates ‘Hawaa Hawaai’ with ‘Mr India’. But today it has got a new meaning with Amole Gupte’s film ‘Hawaa Hawaai’. I have loved watching Amole’s films like ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Stanley Ka Dabba… His films touch emotional chord,” Sridevi told reporters at the first look launch of ‘Hawaa Hawaai’.

Delhi HC to hear plea on power subsidy April 1

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The Delhi High Court Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking direction to frame a scheme to ensure that underprivileged residents of the capital, consuming less than 400 units of electricity per month, are not affected following the lapse of subsidy after April 1.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul posted for April 1 the plea that said Delhi residents will face high electricity tariff after March 31 due to the expiry of government subsidy for consumers using less than 400 units in a month.

‘Govt steps can lead to release of Gilani, Taseer sons’

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A member of a Pakistani committee negotiating with Taliban today said certain steps by the government can lead to the release of the abducted sons of ex-premier Yousaf Raza Gilani and late Governor Salman Taseer.

Without elaborating, Rustam Shah Mohmand said that soon officials would be informed of these steps.

His statement came amidst reports that the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has refused to release the duo.

Ali Haider Gilani and Shahbaz Taseer were abducted by the Taliban in May last year and August 2011 respectively.

180 poll violations reported in Jharkhand

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As many as 180 cases of poll violations have been reported in Jharkhand, an official said Friday.

“A total 180 cases of poll violations have been reported till now and 167 FIRs have been lodged for breaking the model code of conduct. The Bharatiya Janata Party tops with 47 FIRs followed by the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (30), the All Jharkhand Students Union (29), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (22) and the Congress (14),” said a press statement of the Election Commission. The remaining 25 FIRs are against other parties.

Du Plessis, Chandimal suspended for a match each

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South Africa and Sri Lanka captains Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Chandimal were suspended for one match each Friday while their players were fined after both sides maintained slow over-rates during their ICC World Twenty20 Group 1 encounters at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here Thursday.

South Africa were earlier fined for being two overs short against New Zealand March 24 while Sri Lanka were short by one over against New Zealand in Pallekele Nov 21, 2013.

Jiah case: HC asks cops why SMS text, calls not in chargesheet

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The Bombay High Court today asked Juhu police to explain why it had not included in the chargesheet the text of SMS messages and number of telephone calls received by actor Jiah Khan minutes before her death.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Rabia Khan, mother of Jiah, demanding a probe by Special Investigating Team or CBI into the actor’s death as she suspected that it was a case of murder and not suicide.

Maharashtra is “capital of paid news”: Election Commissioner

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Terming Maharashtra as “the capital of paid news”, Election Commissioner H S Brahma today asked the media fraternity to stop this practice, which has attracted a lot of attention in the recent years and led to calls for self-regulation.

Brahma’s sharp remarks at a press conference here led reporters to seek clarification from him. As this point, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, who was also present at the meet, intervened and said “We do not believe that this is a notorious place for paid news.”

Kejriwal attacked during Haryana road show

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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was Friday evening attacked by an unidentified youth during his road show in Charkhi Dadri town of Haryana’s Bhiwani district, eyewitnesses said.

The assaulter got near the open vehicle in which Kejriwal was travelling during the road show and tried to hit him.

The former Delhi chief minister was hit near his neck, but he was not injured.

The attacker was immediately pinned down by Aam Aadmi Party supporters and beaten up. He was taken away by police who were present at the spot.

Charkhi Dadri is about 125 km from New Delhi.
(IANS)

Europe retain Bonallack golf trophy

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Despite winning seven of the 12 singles matches, Asia-Pacific still went down 14.5-17.5 to Europe who thus retained the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy on conclusion of the biennial amateur competition at the Karnataka Golf Association course here Friday.

Europe’s domination on Day 2 made all the difference as they consolidated their overnight 6-4 lead to 12.5-7.5 before going into the third and concluding round Friday. Asia-Pacific found the leeway a bit too much to make up.

Five killed in Yemen raid

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At least three Al Qaeda militants and two soldiers were killed Friday during a raid by security forces in Yemen, a security official said.

“About three Al Qaeda members were killed after the security forces launched an anti-terrorism operation in mountainous Damet region in southern al-Dhalea province Friday,” the security official told Xinhua.

The armed terrorists were attempting to escape and exchanged fire with the security forces, killing two soldiers, he said.

The security forces also seized several weapons and destroyed two houses and two vehicles, the Yemeni official added.

Will give my best shot: Gavaskar

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Cricket legend and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said Friday that he would give his best as the Supreme Court appointed him the interim chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) replacing tainted incumbent N. Srinivasan.

“I am deeply humbled and honoured that the Honourable Supreme Court of India has entrusted me with the job of being the Interim President of the BCCI till the end of IPL 7. Like with my cricket, I will give it my best shot,” said Gavaskar in a statement.

Pune FC force draw with Bengaluru FC

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Pune FC showcased their bench-strength as substitute Anthony D’Souza struck a 73rd minute equaliser and the visitors forced a 1-1 draw with I-Leaders Bengaluru FC here Friday.

Bengaluru, who led by a 25th minute goal from Thoi Singh, yielded ground in the second-half when Pune took the upper hand to rattle the home team with the equaliser and had good chances to even pull off a victory.

The draw took Bengaluru’s tally to 38 while Pune inched up to 31 in third spot, just behind Salgaocar FC who are on 34.

Troopers to do poll duty in sensitive northeast areas

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Top paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, Assam Rifles and Border Security Force, will be deployed in insurgency-hit areas of the northeastern region during the Lok Sabha polls, officials said Friday.

“Central paramilitary forces and state security forces would be deployed as part of three-tier security arrangements in militancy-prone areas of the northeastern region,” a top Assam Rifles official told IANS.

“Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles and Border Security Force would be posted in extremist-prone areas,” he said.

DMK complains against housing board staff’s Coimbatore deputation

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The DMK Friday complained to the Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer against the deputation of TNHB officials to Coimbatore to expedite the handing over of sale deeds to apartment owners.

According to the complaint by I. Paranthamen, advocate at DMK headquarters, residents of housing board tenements had complained to Coimbatore mayor S.M. Velusamy about the non-receipt of their apartment/plot sale deeds.

He said the residents threatened that they would not vote for the ruling AIADMK candidates.

Government notifies 10 more chapters of new Companies Act

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The government Friday notified 10 more chapters of the new Companies Act, primarily related to appointment of directors and powers of board.

Major part of the new legislation is now operational. The ministry of corporate affairs notified 183 new sections Wednesday, in addition to 100 sections notified earlier. The total of notified chapters now stand at 293.

Sammy cameo wins it for Windies

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Skipper Darren Sammy smashed an unbeaten 34 to fire the West Indies to an exciting six-wicket win over Australia in their Group 2 match of the ICC World Twenty20 here Friday.

With the West Indies requiring 12 from the last over in pursuit of 179 for victory, Sammy twice cleared the ropes with seamer James Faulkner off the third and fourth balls, to deliver a sensational win for the defending champions with two balls to spare.

Soha felicitates young designers at WIFW

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Actress Soha Ali Khan felicitated India’s aspiring fashion designers at an awards ceremony held at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week autumn-winter 2014 (WIFW) here Friday.

Wills Lifestyle presented the grand finale of the 8th edition of The Debut, which recognises the country’s talented young designers in the field of fashion. Soha graced the occasion.

List of previous IAF accidents

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations transport aircraft that crashed Friday killing five crew members on board was on a tactical training mission.

Here is a list of IAF aircraft have crashed in the recent past.

* Jan 22, 2014: A Jaguar combat jet crashed near Bholasar village in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. The pilot and co-pilot ejected safely. According to defence ministry, pilots detected a technical problem while landing at Nal airport in Bikaner and ejected.

Israel not to release final group of prisoners: Palestine

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Israel will not release the final group of Palestinian prisoners who were expected to be freed Saturday, a Palestinian official said Friday.

The message was relayed to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) by US special envoy Martin Indyk, the official told Xinhua.

He also said that the US has been pressurising the Israeli government to release the prisoners in order to avoid a possible collapse of the peace talks.

The Palestinian leadership would possibly hold a meeting to examine the Israeli decision, the official added.

JS won’t field candidates in AP polls to avoid vote-spilt

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Telugu film star and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan gave a breather to political parties in Andhra Pradesh by announcing that his newly-launched party would not field candidates in the ensuing elections to Lok Sabha and the state Assembly.

“I don’t want to let a split in votes,” Kalyan announced last night, implying that he did not want a repeat of 2009 when the emergence of Praja Rajyam, floated by his eldest brother and now Union Minister K Chiranjeevi, helped Congress to retain power by splitting the anti-establishment votes.

I am terrified of fashion: Soha Ali Khan

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Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, known for her uber cool street style, says she is both in love and terrified of fashion.

“I am in love with fashion. I am a big fan of trends and style but at the same time, I am terrified of it. Fashion can be a very tricky thing to deal with at times. So have to be very careful,” Soha said on the sidelines of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.

Dressed in an orange knee length dress, the 35-year-old actress looked chic as she honoured a young designer Gaurav Goyel, who won the Debut award organised by Wills Lifestyle.

Italian marines challenge NIA probe in fishermen killing

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The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on the petition filed by two Italian marines challenging the jurisdiction of NIA to prosecute and probe the case of killing of two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012.

The fresh move by the marines comes more than a month after the Indian Government decided to withdraw their prosecution under the stringent anti-piracy SUA law that attracts death penalty as maximum punishment.

Teachers to help create wildlife awareness in Assam

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They say teachers are the best purveyors of knowledge. A wildlife NGO in Assam has launched a training programme for teachers not only to spread the message of wildlife conservation but also to help them with environment education so that they can work as experts in the field.

Aaranyak, an NGO working for biodiversity conservation since 1989, recently held a training programme for 26 teachers at Bansbari range of the Manas National Park.

All the teachers were drawn from schools located in the fringe areas of the park.