Month: March 2014

Chidambaram defends new gas price to producers

by

The new price approved by the cabinet for domestically produced natural gas is the right decision, Finance Minister P.Chidambaram said here Monday.

“It has taken into account all pros and cons, including the reservations expressed by different ministries. The cabinet decision is the right decision,” Chidambaram told reporters.

Clarifying that a decision approved twice by the cabinet was referred to the Election Commission only from abundant caution about not violating the poll code of conduct, Chidambaram warned of the consequences of not implementing it.

Sonakshi to show Hindi ‘Rio 2’ to NGO kids (Movie Snippets)

by

Sonakshi Sinha has a soft corner for children of an NGO that she supports and she plans to treat them with a special screening of the Hindi version of Hollywood film “Rio 2”, for which she has lent her voice.

Sonakshi will organise a fun evening with an exclusive screening of the movie for the underprivileged children that the NGO supports, and she will also interact with them for sometime before the film’s screening.

Libel plea against Khaleda rejected

by

A court in Bangladesh Monday rejected a libel plea against the country’s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia.

A.B. Siddiqui, chief of Jananetri Parishad, a pro-ruling Awami League organisation, filed the petition in Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court Monday alleging that Khaleda had distorted the history of the country’s Liberation War by saying that her husband Ziaur Rahman was “Bangladesh’s first president”.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Shamsul Arefin rejected the plea after a hearing Monday.

Modi’s business brand is ‘crony capitalism’, says Chidambaram

by

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Monday criticised BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi saying that his brand of liberalism is “crony capitalism” and aims to appease only a section of businesses.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress party head office here, Chidambaram claimed that businesses at large are comfortable with the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and Modi could appease only a section of them.

Bhullar’s death sentence commuted to life term

by

The Supreme Court Monday commuted the death sentence of 1993 Delhi terror convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar to life imprisonment on the grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition and that he suffered from a mental illness.

The Supreme Court by its Jan 21, 2014, verdict had held that inordinate, unexplained and unreasonable delay in deciding the mercy petition and insanity/mental illness/schizophrenia were the circumstances for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment.

‘Unrecognised’ poll debut by motley group (Election Special)

by

A former senior Maharashtra senior cop, a breakaway

member of the AAP and an activist working among Sikkimese people – are among the 24
people who have formed new political outfits that will make their electoral debut,
albeit as “unrecognised parties”, in these elections.

The 24 political parties, with names as diverse as Hum Sabki Party, Rashtriya
Vikalp Party, Apna Dal United Party, Ex-Sainik Vikas Party, Awami Vikas Party and
even Free Thought Party, have been registered as Unrecognised Parties by the
Election Commission for the April 7-May 12 Lok Sabha polls.

India will forever see riots with Modi at helm: Mayawati

by

Alluding to the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat, BSP supremo Mayawati Monday said India would be “forever gripped” in riots and face destruction if the BJP led by Narendra Modi comes to power at the centre.

“The man responsible for the Godhra riots is aspiring to be the country’s prime minister. It will be grave danger, if, even by mistake, the man comes to power. India will be forever gripped in riots and the country will be completely destroyed,” said Mayawati, launching her Bahujan Samaj Party’s Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal.

Smart phone tools can drive smokers quit

by

Smart phones and tablets may hold the key to get more clinicians screen patients for tobacco use and advise smokers on how to quit, research shows.

In the study, using mobile phones loaded with tobacco screening guidelines prompted nurses to ask patients about their smoking habits.

After the counselling, most of smokers expressed a willingness to kick the habit, according to a study from Columbia University School of Nursing.

Chopper develops snag, Mamata smells conspiracy

by

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Monday smelt a rat after the helicopter scheduled to ferry her to an election rally in the state’s West Midnapore district developed a snag, forcing her to travel by road.

Calling it a “deliberate attempt” to stop her from addressing the rally, she said it could be a “conspiracy”.

Banerjee arrived late at the venue in Keshiari under Kharagpur subdivision of the district where hundreds had gathered in the scorching heat to hear her speak and get a glimpse of the party’s star candidates – Bengali superstar Dev and veteran actress Sandhya Roy.

US not to provide excess military equipment in Afghanistan to Pakistan post-pullout

by

The United States has said it is not planning to hand over surplus armoured vehicles and other military equipment to Pakistan.

The U.S. rejected as ‘inaccurate’ reports appearing in the media and Afghan claims that Washington was providing surplus armour to Islamabad.

According to the Express Tribune, the Washington Post reported earlier this week that the Pentagon might give Pakistan some of the seven billion dollars worth of armoured vehicles and other equipment it needs to dispose off as the war in Afghanistan is nearing its end.

Alvi urges Sonia to field him against Modi from Varanasi

by

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Monday said that he has written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about his intent to contest elections against Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

“I am sure that this illustrious city would support me to strengthen the secular Indian values. The victory of Congress will be the victory of India.” said Alvi.

The Congress leader showed his eagerness to teach Modi a lesson about secularism and urged his party president to give him a chance.

Former adviser to Putin says Russian president’s ambitions lie far beyond Crimea

by

Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly has ambitions that lie far beyond Crimea, a former adviser of the president has claimed.

Andrej Illarionov, who served as Putin’s chief economic counsellor from 2000 to 2005, said that Putin’s view is that he protects what belongs to him and his predecessors.

Illarionov said that parts of Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and Finland are states where Putin claims to have ownership.

Apple files app patent for making phones transparent for ‘clumsy’ iPhone users

by

Tech giant Apple has reportedly filed a patent to create transparent phones, which would help clumsy iPhone users to see where they are going while working on their phones.

Apple has reportedly come up with a new technology for tech-dependent users, who can no longer put their device away, which would modify an app’s background to project live video images from the rear camera onto the screen.

According to the Independent, iPhone users would be able to see any obstacle looming up on them while they are walking and doing some work on their smartphone at the same time.

Exes beg LiLo to stop ‘lovers-list’ controversy

by

Lindsay Lohan’s former lovers have reportedly pleaded her to put an end to the storm created by her alleged list of lovers.

A source told Now magazine that several exes have contacted Lohan, begging her to end it, but the damage is already done, Stuff.co.nz reported.

She didn’t intend for any of this to happen but she seems to have the whole male population running scared, added the insider.

Miranda Kerr ‘likes both men and women’ post Orlando Bloom split

by

Miranda is looking to replace her former hubby Orlando Bloom, and she is apparently open to ‘options’.

According to the Daily Star, the 30-year-old former Victoria’s Secret model revealed during an interview with GQ magazine that she appreciates both men and women and wants to explore.

In October 2013, Bloom and Kerr, announced that they intended to end their marriage.

The former couple got married in 2010 and has a 3-year-old son together. (ANI)

China to send 50 observation satellites for global surveillance

by

China is reportedly planning to send a network of surveillance satellites in space in order to cover the entire earth.

If the plan materializes, more than 50 observation satellites will be sent in orbit within two years.

According to News.com.au, this would put the country’s satellite surveillance capabilities on a par, or greater than, the US .

It is reported that the plan was born out of China’s frustration over the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370. (ANI)

BJP “misleading” people only for PM post: Sonia, targets Modi

by

In a veiled reference to Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said the BJP’s only goal is to grab the Prime Minister’s chair for which it was “misleading people” and shedding crocodile tears.

Gandhi also said that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is not just about development of the country, adding the Congress is fighting for safeguarding the secular values enshrined in the Constitution.

“They (BJP) have only one target–that is the PM chair and for that they are misleading people,” Gandhi said, firing a fresh salvo at the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate.

Sabir Ali’s wife stages protest outside Naqvi’s residence, demands apology from him

by

Expelled Janata Dal United (JD-U) leader Sabir Ali’s wife Yasmin Ali on Monday staged protest outside the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and demanded an apology from him over his allegations against her husband.

“I just want an apology from Naqvi. I had said that if I don’t get an apology from him, I will sit here to protest,” said Yasmin Ali.

On Sunday, Sabir Ali filed a defamation case against Naqvi for his alleged remarks on the leader.

Pawar launches scathing attack against Modi, calls him mentally ill

by

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar launched a scathing attack on main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial Narendra Modi calling him mentally ill, who needs treatment for making derogatory comments.

“Modi needs to be treated in a mental hospital for talking rubbish,” Pawar said.

I appreciate both men and women: Miranda Kerr

by

Supermodel Miranda Kerr, who has split from Orlando Bloom, says she wants to “explore” her bisexuality.

Kerr and her husband Orlando Bloom announced that they were amicably divorcing nearly six months ago.

And Kerr just revealed that she is looking forward to living out all her bisexual fantasies, reports dailymail.co.uk.

“I appreciate both men and women. I want to explore. Never say never,” the 30-year-old told the new issue of British GQ magazine.

Kerr, mother-of-one, is rumoured to be dating fellow Australian, media mogul James Packer.

People entering the workforce during recession happier in their jobs

by

Researchers have said that well-educated graduates who entered the workforce during economic downturns were happier with their work than those who first searched for jobs during more prosperous times.

In fact, they were happier with their jobs both early and late in their careers, even when they earned less money.

Sabir Ali’s wife protests outside Naqvi residence

by

Expelled JD-U leader Sabir Ali’s wife Yasmin Monday sat on a protest outside BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s Delhi residence, demanding an apology over remarks that Ali is close to terrorists.

Naqvi, vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), last week alleged that Ali was close to Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal.

“I will sit here till I get justice. He (Naqvi) should prove the allegation or give an apology letter,” Yasmin told reporters outside Naqvi’s Pandara Park house here.

Modi rakes up Italian marines issue, slams Sonia

by

Raking up the Italian marines case, Narendra Modi today mounted an attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi and demanded that she come clean on who helped the two marines get “safe passage” from the country after killing two fishermen off Kerala coast.

“Sonia Gandhi should answer the people on who helped the two Italian marines get safe passage from India after killing two fishermen in Kerala,” he said at an election rally here.

Now Alvi offers to contest from Varanasi, writes to Sonia

by

Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi today joined the party men who have offered to contest against BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat.

“For the first time, the idea of secular India is under threat…. I would request you to permit me to contest against Modi from Benares”, Alvi, a former AICC spokesman, said in a letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi.

AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh had also offered to contest against Modi in Varanasi so also Union Minister Anand Sharma.