Month: April 2014

Advani call Manmohan Singh India’s weakest prime minister

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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani has trained his guns on Manmohan Singh, terming him the “weakest” Prime Minister he had ever seen.

“Though, Manmohan Singh has been Prime Minister but he had no power. I remember that when he became Prime Minister for the first time I said that I had not seen such a weak Prime Minister since Nehru, the first Prime Minister,” Advani said while addressing a rally here yesterday.

He further said that party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would revive the process of development started by Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Gujarat govt. has failed to curb corruption during its 12 years rule: Kejriwal

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that BJP government in Gujarat has failed to curb corruption during its 12 years rule.

Addressing a party rally here last evening, Kejriwal said that no work can materialize without paying bribe in the state.

He said if the BJP government comes to power, unemployment will increase in the country as the party will allow FDI in retail.

The former Delhi Chief Minister further said he would make life difficult for both Congress and BJP in the coming days.

Disability no handicap for this Rajasthan youth

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Manoj Machra was born with no hands. In normal circumstances, someone with his disability would have accepted his fate and moved on, but not this 17-year-old: He hopes to get 80-85 percent in his secondary exams and aspires for a career in law.

His sheer grit and determination to complete his education against all odds is now inspiring his peers in a Rajasthan village these days. Manoj uses his toes to write his answer papers.

Petrol price cut by 75 paise a litre; diesel hike put off

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The price of petrol was today cut by 75 paise per litre, the first reduction in five months, while the already unpopular monthly hike in diesel rates was put off during the election season.

The reduction, effective midnight tonight, excludes local sales tax or VAT and the actual cut will be higher, varying from city to city.

The price of petrol was last increased by 60 paise on March 1 and will cost Rs 72.26 a litre in Delhi, down 90 paise from Rs 73.16 at present. In Mumbai, the fuel will cost Rs 80.89 a litre against Rs 82.07 currently.

SSC exams rescheduled

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In view of ZPTC examinations in the state the last three papers of SSC exams have been rescheduled. Social Studies Paper I which was earlier scheduled on April 10th will be held on April 12th; Social studies Paper II which was to be held on April 11, will be held on April 15th; OSSC main Language Paper II will be held on April 16th and Vocational Course (Theory) on April 17th.

The timings of two exams have been slightly changed. General Science Paper I on April 7th will be held from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Social Studies Paper-I will also be held between 11 am to 1:30 pm on April 12th.

Dejected by their parents, lovers committed suicide

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Two lovers committed suicide by jumping in front of a train in Gundlapochampally village in Medchal, on Monday. They took this exteme step as they were depressed since their elders rejected their love.

The lovers were identified as Chandrashekhar, 22year-old and Laxmi Prasanna, 17 year-old, both residents of Suraram Colony in Outhbullapur in Jeedimetla.

According to Inspector Anjaneyulu, government railway police, Secunderabad said, they had been in love since a year.

Sensex begins FY15 on promising note, gains 75 points

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Commencing the new fiscal 2014-15 on a positive note, the BSE Sensex today gained over 75 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retail investors ahead of the RBI’s policy review.

Continuing its winning streak, the 30-share index rose further by 75.48 points, or 0.34 per cent, to trade at 22,461.75 points, with all sectoral indices led by consumer durables, oil & gas and auto trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.34 per cent.

The Sensex gained over 1,265 points, or nearly 6 per cent, in the last month.

Lok Sabha polls: BJP fields Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The party also nominated Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Aggarwal against Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli.

The decision on Irani and Aggarwal was taken at a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee here last night. Top BJP leaders Narendra Modi, LK Advani, Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley were present at the meeting. (ANI)

Poor sleep quality could lead to cognitive decline in older men

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Researchers have found link poor sleep quality with the development of cognitive decline over three to four years.

Results show that higher levels of fragmented sleep and lower sleep efficiency were associated with a 40 to 50 percent increase in the odds of clinically significant decline in executive function, which was similar in magnitude to the effect of a five-year increase in age. In contrast, sleep duration was not related to subsequent cognitive decline.

RCom launches two international roaming packs

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Reliance Communications (RCom) on Monday launched two international roaming packs for post-paid GSM customers, offering a discount of up to 96 per cent on data and and up to 92 per cent on call charges.

The roaming pack for UK is available for a rental of Rs 849 per month, wherein users will be charged Rs 25 per MB for data and Rs 25 for call back to India. The base tariff is Rs 563 per MB and Rs 140 per call.

Arvind Kejriwal’s car, gifted to AAP’s Rohtak candidate, attacked

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Some unidentified men have allegedly damaged Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s car being used by his Rohtak Lok Sabha candidate for campaigning in the constituency in Haryana, reports said on Tuesday.

Kejriwal’s blue WagonR car was attacked when it was being driven by a party member and a leader from Rohtak, party sources claimed.

The car is being used by AAP’s Rohtak candidate Navin Jaihind for campaigning since he does not have a vehicle of his own.

Facebook denies scrapping bold designs in wake of bad ad revenues

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A Facebook director has reportedly refuted claims that the company scrapped last year’s bold redesign as it was bad for ad revenues.

The claims were made by the owner of the publishing platform Svbtle Dustin Curtis, who is also a UX designer and writer.

According to the Verge, Curtis cited several sources in his blog post, saying Facebook found that testers of the redesigned News Feed were spending less time in user profiles and event pages.

Transgender Kamla challenges Modi in Varanasi

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BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has a new rival in the temple town – a transgender. Kamla, who is in her sixties, on Monday announced her decision to fight from the prime constituency as an Independent candidate.

“Arvind Kejriwal bears the blemish of running away from Delhi governance and the spectre of 2002 Gujarat riots is still dogging the image of Modi, but I have a spotless image,” Kamala said and asked Varanasi voters to support her.

Mice cured of rare liver disorder using new gene-editing system

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MIT researchers have cured mice of a rare liver disorder caused by a single genetic mutation by using a new gene-editing system based on bacterial proteins.

The findings offer the first evidence that this gene-editing technique, known as CRISPR, can reverse disease symptoms in living animals. CRISPR, which offers an easy way to snip out mutated DNA and replace it with the correct sequence, holds potential for treating many genetic disorders, according to the research team.

Seven+ daily portions of fruit and veg ‘best chance to stave off death from any cause’

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Researchers have suggested that eating at least seven daily portions of fruit and vegetables could be the best chance to stave off death from any cause.

According to the data, vegetables may pack more of a protective punch than fruit.

The authors analysed lifestyle data for more than 65,000 randomly selected adults aged at least 35, derived from annual national health surveys for England between 2001and 2008. And they tracked recorded deaths from among the sample for an average of 7.5 years.

Modi not a good orator: Uma Bharti

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Narendra Modi is “not a good orator” and people go to his rallies to show support rather than listen to him, outspoken BJP leader Uma Bharti said on Monday.

“Have you heard Modi making speeches? Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the best orator of our party. Nobody equals his oratory skills in Indian politics,” she said, addressing a BJP workers meet in Jhansi from where she has been nominated by the party for the Lok Sabha polls.

No differences with Nancy Powell: Obama admin

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US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell’s resignation is not related to any tension or any recent situation, the Obama Administration asserted Monday refuting all such media reports in this regard.

“It is in no way related to any tension, any recent situations. There’s no big behind the scenes story here,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters when asked about Powell’s announcement in New Delhi that she has sent her resignation to President Barack Obama.

China’s manufacturing PMI increases

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The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for China’s manufacturing sector rose to 50.3 percent in March, up from 50.2 percent in February, authorities said Tuesday.

It is the first month-on-month rise since November, Xinhua cited from a statement jointly released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while above 50 signals expansion.

The index shows China’s manufacturing sector is stable, said Zhao Qinghe, a senior analyst with the NBS.

Want to rid nation of bad governance, vote bank politics, dynastic rule: Modi

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Describing the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as an “election of hope”, Narendra Modi has said he wants to rid the nation of bad governance, vote bank politics, dynastic rule, corruption and misuse of constitutional institutions which were “nourished” by Congress governments.

The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said the “biggest crisis” facing the nation is that people have lost confidence not only in the institution of the Prime Minister but the “very institution of the government” that is crucial to run the government.

UN to showcase initiatives against climate change

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Communities, cities, businesses and governments that are taking the lead in tackling climate change can apply to have their game-changing initiatives recognized by the UN Climate Change secretariat.

The secretariat officially opened the call for applications for its 2014 Lighthouse Activities Monday as part of wider efforts to mobilise action and ambition as national governments work towards a new universal climate agreement in 2015.

Amit Shah to inaugurate Modi’s election office in Varanasi

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According to reports, Modi’s close confidante and party’s general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah will inaugurate the BJP leader’s election office in the city’s Sigra locality.

Amit Shah, a former Gujarat Home minister, is also likely to formally address a press conference, a rarity since he was made the UP in-charge by BJP.

The BJP media in-charge for ‘Kashi Prant’ unit Sanjay Bharadwaj said his party is aiming for an “unprecedented victory margin” in the eastern UP.

US envoy Nancy Powell resigns

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In a sudden development, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell on Monday resigned in the midst of general elections in India in which Narendra Modi is perceived to be a front runner for the post of Prime Minister.

The announcement of her resignation to her colleagues in the US mission here today came a week after media reports here that she may be shipped out by the Obama Administration to “clean the state” with India. Powell has been in India for less than three years.

Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadvi to arrive in Hyderabad

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Prominent personality of Islamic world Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadvi, President Jamiatush Shababul Islam and teacher of Hadeeth at Darul Uloom Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow will arrive in Hyderabad on the invitation of Waqf Development Foundation.

He will address a public meeting entitled ‘Message of Islam to the humanity’ to be held at Chanchalguda Junior College Ground, on Saturday, April 5, after Maghrib prayers. He will also lay the foundation stone of Masjid Muhammadia, Uppal after Asra prayers the same day.

Siasat news

Modi would enjoy diplomatic immunity if he becomes PM: Report

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The nine-year US visa ban on Narendra Modi will automatically be lifted and he would enjoy diplomatic immunity if he becomes the prime minister, a Congressional report said on Monday.

“Modi is widely considered to be one of the front-runners as prime ministerial candidate of his Bharatiya Janata Party. If Narendra Modi were to become Prime Minister of India, he would automatically be eligible for an A-1 (diplomatic) visa as head of state, regardless of the purpose of his visit,” the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its communication to US lawmakers.