Month: March 2014

Bahrain grants two weeks to jihadis to return

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The Bahraini government Thursday announced a two week grace period for citizens fighting in “jihad” missions abroad or regional conflicts to return, saying no criminal charges will be pressed.

After the two weeks the government will take strict actions, including revoking passports against returnees who are found to be involved in or deceived into joining any movement in conflict zones, particularly in Syria, Xinhua quoted Bahrain’s interior ministry as saying.

300 more objects spotted, bad weather disrupts jet search

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Over 300 new objects were spotted by satellites of Thailand and Japan in or near the search area in the southern Indian Ocean where Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is believed to have been “lost” but bad weather Thursday forced Australian authorities to suspend the search operation, it was announced.

Congress moves EC against BJP slogan

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The Congress Thursday moved the Election Commission against BJP saying that its official slogan “Abki baar, Modi sarkar” was unconstitutional and its supporters were using slogans with religious connotations in violation of the model code of conduct.

In a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner V.S.Sampath, K.C. Mittal of the Congress legal department, sought de-recognition of Bharatiya Janata Party and action against its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

AAP loses Delhi vote share to Congress: Survey

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The AAP has lost its vote share and will win only three of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. While the Congress will win one seat with an improved vote share, the BJP will win three, an opinion poll said Thursday.

According to the ABP News Nielsen Poll, the Aam Aadmi Party’s vote share has come down from 55 percent forecast in January to 34 percent in March.

“Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is predicted to face a loss in its vote share in Delhi and is likely to get around 34 percent vote and three seats in the Lok Sabha polls,” said a release.

Crimea’s war dolphins now in hands of Russian navy

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The dolphins and sea lions trained by the Ukrainian navy in Crimea for military operations are now in the hands of the Russian navy following the peninsula’s absorption by Russia.

The Ukrainian navy resumed the programme, which was scrapped just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 2012 at one of the two aquariums in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, which is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

The centre worked on developing new methods of training dolphins and sea lions so they could be used to locate underwater weapons and divers.

Furore at Nagma’s poll meeting

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A commotion broke out at the poll meeting at Jallikoti area here organised by Congress for the campaigning of actress Nagma, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Meerut.

Meerut Congress president Salim Bharti admitted to the furore but dismissed reports that a youth manhandled the actress, and she slapped him, which triggered the commotion.

Nagma left the meeting after trying in vain to pacify the crowd.

Bharti said people were coming out in support of the Congress candidate and commotion in such situations was normal.

Pharrell Williams teams up with adidas

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Grammy award winning singer Pharrell Williams has joined hands with sports brand adidas.

The brand will collaborate with Williams’ Bionic Yarn coming from The Vortex Project; that transforms plastic waste from oceans to yarn and fabric. Bionic Yarn will be used in some of “Happy” hitmaker’s adidas Originals products.

It’s my best knock: Hales

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Alex Hales had no hesitation in declaring that his whirlwind 116-run knock, which scripted England’s sensational win over Sri Lanka, was his best.

Hales’s fabulous knock, laced with 17 boundaries, blew away the Lankan bowlers, who also struggled to grip the ball due to heavy dew.

Saudi princesses ‘seek Obama’s help for freedom’

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A former wife of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah appealed to US President Barack Obama today for help in the case of four daughters she says are being held in a royal palace.

Alanoud AlFayez, 57, a Jordanian national who has lived in London since her divorce from the Saudi monarch in 2003, said her children needed to be “saved”.

Her comments come ahead of Obama’s visit to the kingdom on Friday, during which US lawmakers have urged him to address rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

Libya parliament chief faces ‘immorality probe’

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Libya’s public prosecutor said today parliamentary chief Nuri Abu Sahmein was being investigated over possible immorality charges linked to a visit to his home by two women.

A video, apparently filmed in secret and which has been circulating online since yesterday, purports to show Abu Sahmein, head of Libya’s General National Congress, answering questions from an unknown man about the presence of the women in his home.

Abu Sahmein, visibly worried, explains that a former assistant and another employee of the GNC had come to his home to return some documents.

Saudi king decrees half brother Moqren to be a future monarch

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King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia today appointed his half-brother Moqren bin Abdul Aziz as the next heir to the throne, paving the way for him to become a future king.

The move was announced by a royal decree broadcast by state television channel Al-Ikhbariya.

Under an irrevocable decree, Prince Moqren, currently second deputy president of the council of ministers, is named the next crown prince.

There was no mention in the decree of current Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

Turkey shuts down Youtube

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Turkey’s Telecommunications Directorate Thursday blocked access to popular social network Youtube hours after a leaked voice recording of a high-level security meeting on Syria was published on this website, the media reported.

In the voice recording, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, National Intelligence Organisation Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Deputy Chief of General Staff General Yasar Guler were heard discussing possible intervention into Syria, Xinhua quoted Dogan news agency as saying.

‘Over Rs.79 crore unaccounted cash seized so far’

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The Election Commission has so far seized unaccounted cash amounting Rs 79.20 crore as part of efforts to check illegal flow of money in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, official sources said Thursday.

They said that the highest cash seizure of Rs.49.85 crore has been made from Andhra Pradesh followed by Rs.11.32 crore from Tamil Nadu and Rs.9.39 crore from Uttar Pradesh.

Lok Sabha elections will be held across the country in nine phases starting April 7 and ending May 12.
(IANS)

Rahul Mishra presents award winning range at WIFW

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Fashion designer Rahul Mishra showcased ‘The lotus effect’ collection, which helped him to scoop the coveted International Woolmark Prize (IWP) in Milan, at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) 2014 on its second day here.

Mishra’s new collection is essentially made with merino wool and it was spun in superfine way, which make the clothes wearable in all seasons.

“I wanted to create wool that is trans-seasonal. It is spun in such a way that in summer it can prove to be more comfortable than cotton,” Mishra told reporters here Thursday.

Saudi Prince Muqrin appointed second-in-line to throne

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The Saudi Royal Court Thursday announced that Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the second-in-line to the throne.

The royal decree, broadcast by state television, makes Muqrin the second-in-line to succeed after his half-brothers King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, Xinhua reported.

King Abdullah highlighted in the decree that the decision couldn’t be changed.

Prince Muqrin, who was born in 1945, is the second deputy prime minister. He is the 35th son of late King Abdulaziz.
(IANS)

China punishes gaming company using pornographic adverts

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China has banned a mobile game using a Japanese porn star for promotion and fined its developer for publicising pornography, the ministry of culture said Thursday.

The Shanghai Wanke Internet Technology corporation invited Kato Taka, a famous Japanese porn actor, to make a video with pornographic content to advertise a mobile game developed by the company, Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

Harassment drives newly wed to suicide

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A 18-year-old house wife died of burn injuries which she suffered after setting herself ablaze at her residence in Subramanyam Nagar colony of Saidabad.

According to Saidabad police, the deceased Haritha, W/o Veera Kumar a vegetable businessman, had allegedly set herself ablaze on March 25. She was admitted to the Osmania Hospital where she died on Wednesday night hours.

Financial problem drives Businessman to suicide in Bowenpally

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A 24 year old Businessman committed suicide by hanging at his residence on Wednesday in Bowenpally police limits.

According to Police, Deceased Y Eshwar Mani Kanta (24) a Businessman S/o Srinivasa Rao R/o Old Bowenpally committed suicide by hanging at his residence on Wednesday night hours.

The family members of the man told the police that he slipped into depression due to financial problems and might have ended his life over it.

Student killed in road accident at Nacharam

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A 16-year old Student killed in road accident hit by Lorry while going on Motor Cycle near Nacharam cross road on Thursday morning hours.

According to Nacharam Police, The deceased was identified as Sushil Kumar Singh (16) a Student S/o Shailender Singh R/o Raghavendra nagar of Nacharam, the accident occurred on Thursday morning hours when deceased was going on his Motor Cycle when he was reached near Nacharam Cross Road one speeding Lorry came rash and negligent manner and hit due to which deceased was received severe injuries and died on the spot.

WIFW: Malini Ramani tries hand at Indian designs

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Fashion designer Malini Ramani, best known for creating resort wear, chose to go the Indian way for her autumn-winter collection, which she presented at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week here Thursday.

With a stylish title – Glamourette, her collection consisted of saris in abundance, though there were thigh-high slit, figure-hugging dresses too.

What added to the Indian look was the use of big and bold bindis on forehead of all the models. The winged eye make-up further reminded the audience of yesteryear Bollywood actresses like Asha Parekh and Helen.

L’Oreal Paris, Femina honour Indian women achievers

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A total of 15 women from different walks of life, including actress Usha Jadhav and former police officer Kiran Bedi were honoured as beauty brand L’Oreal Paris and women’s magazine Femina Thursday came together to celebrate Indian women achievers.

The third edition of the L’Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards 2014 also brought together three brand ambassadors of L’Oreal – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif – under one roof for this unique award function.

After subsidy lapse, court urged to help those consuming less power

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A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court 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 after the lapse of subsidy after March 31.

The public interest litigation (PIL) likely to be heard Friday said that Delhi residents will face high electricity tariff after March 31 due to expiry of government subsidy for consumers using less than 400 units in a month.

Rajasthan patients launch campaign against hepatitis

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Patients from various districts of Rajasthan Thursday joined hands for creating an awareness programme to mobilise all stakeholders, including practitioners and policy makers, to combat the growing number of hepatitis cases.

As many as 12 million people may be chronically infected in India and most are unaware of it, experts say.

Lack of awareness about the disease and its treatment, coupled with the fact that it has no visible symptoms in its early stages, has contributed to its spread, particularly in northern India.

IRF welcomes Congress’s focus on road safety

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The International Road Federation (IRF) Thursday welcomed the Congress’s move to include road safety and the commitment to reduce deaths due to road accidents in its election manifesto.

“IRF welcomes this move by a political party, which has happened for the first time in the political history of India. We hope other parties will also follow as India accounts for about 10 percent of the global road deaths,” said K.K. Kapila, chairman of the India unit of the IRF.

IRF is a Geneva-based non-governmental organisation.

India’s action on Sri Lanka resolution condemnable: VCK leader

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India’s decision to abstain from voting on the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is condemnable while the positive aspect is that the resolution has been passed, said a leader of Tamil Nadu’s VCK party.

“India’s decision of abstain from voting on the US sponsored resolution is condemnable. However as the resolution been passed, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should step down from his post or he should be removed so as to enable an independent probe into the war crimes against the Tamils there,” D.Ravikumar of VCK told IANS.