Month: May 2014

Jayalalithaa to meet Modi Tuesday, submit list of issues

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Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday and submit a list of issues concerning Tamil Nadu, it was announced Friday.

The memorandum will include long-pending issues crucial to Tamil Nadu and on which the central government needs to act, an official statement said.

This will be Jayalalithaa’s first meeting with Modi after he became the prime minister May 26.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister didn’t attend his May 26 inauguration after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited to the event.

DU teachers, students urge Irani to scrap four-year programme

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A delegation of teachers and students from the Delhi University (DU) Friday submitted a memorandum to HRD Minister Smriti Irani urging her to scrap the four-year undergraduate programme and sack vice chancellor Dinesh Singh.

Student bodies like All India Students Association, DU’s All India Democratic Students Organisation and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union with Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and Democratic Teachers’ Front protested outside the ministry and demanded the return of previous three-year course structure.

Do not act in haste on Article 370: Mayawati to PM

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BSP surpemo Mayawati today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to take any step in haste on Article 370 as it might affect “unity and integrity” of the country.

“Even if Centre feels it necessary to repeal Article 370 in the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir, no decision should be taken in haste that might affect unity and integrity of the country,” Mayawati told reporters here.

She alleged that controversy on Article 370 was generated only to create polarisation among people on the lines of community and religion.

Akhilesh in trouble as power crisis hit UP

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Angry residents are taking to the streets across Uttar Pradesh in the wake of severe electricity outages which have put the Samajwadi Party government in a spot.

With little to show in the power sector in the last two years of its rule, this is the worst thing that could have happened to the ruling party after the Lok Sabha debacle.

In the past one week alone, small and big power riots have taken place at half-a-dozen places in the state.

Show no haste on Article 370: Badal

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday said no decision on Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, should be taken in haste.

Advocating an amicable solution of issues like Article 370, Badal, the patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal which is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said all concerned should be involved in such a decision.

Exposure to light while sleeping can make you fat

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Women who are exposed to greater levels of light while sleeping are more likely to gain weight, a new study has claimed. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, found that body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio and waist circumference all increased with increasing exposure to light at night.

These associations were still seen after adjustments were made for confounding factors that could be associated with
light exposure levels and weight in the study participants, such as physical activity, having young children and sleep
duration.

Centre to streamline distribution of free generic drugs

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The central government will streamline systems involved in the distribution of free generic drugs across India, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said.

The free drug programme’s formal launch would be preceded by working out all logistical details with respect to procurement and distribution in consultation with the state governments, he said after a review meeting with health ministry officials Thursday.

The meeting was called to review the implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM).

Iran says Syria vote will boost legitimacy of ally Assad

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Iran said Friday that next week’s presidential election in Syria, branded a farce by Western governments, will boost the legitimacy of its ally Bashar al-Assad.

“God willing, the elections in Syria will be carried out without a hitch,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“This election will strengthen the legitimacy of the Bashar government… as his people have realised he has prevented Syria from disintegrating or falling to occupation,” Velayati told the official IRNA news agency.

SC to hear plea by Campa Cola society residents

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The Supreme Court will hear Tuesday a plea filed by the residents of unauthorised flats in Mumbai’s Campa Cola housing complex who are set to be evicted Saturday.

A bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice C.Nagappan Friday agreed to hear the matter Tuesday after senior counsel Vikas Singh told the apex court that it was a human problem as 40 families would be evicted.

However, the apex court did not stay its earlier order to evict of 40 owners of the unauthorised flats by May 31.

Innocent backs Smriti Irani on educational qualifications

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New HRD Minister Smriti Irani, caught in a controversy over her educational qualifications, Friday received unexpected support from new Lok Sabha member and comedian Innocent who represents Chalakudy in Kerala.

Innocent contested as a Left-supported independent candidate and defeated Congress veteran P.C. Chacko in his debut general polls.

He told reporters here Friday that what matters most is not the level of educational qualifications, but the grasping power and level of understanding things.

Volcano erupts in Indonesia, farmers evacuated

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A volcano errupted in Indonesia Friday, forcing evacuation of farmers from the areas on the slope of the volcano, official said.

A powerful burst of hot ashes erupted from the rumbling Mount Sangiang in West Nusatenggara province, Xinhua reported.

The volcano, located in a small island of Bima district, spewed ashes into the sky at 3.55 p.m., Muhammad Hendrasto, head of the National Volcanology Agency, said.

Four arrested in Pak honour killing case

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Pakistani police probing the brutal murder of a 25-year-old pregnant woman stoned to death in a case of honour killing today arrested four men, including her uncle. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given a 24-hour deadline to police to round up all those involved in the killing of Farzana who was murdered outside the Lahore High court on May 27 for marrying the man of her choice. “We have arrested an uncle and three cousins of Farzana Parveen and raids are underway to arrest her two brothers,” Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider told PTI.

4 arrested for betting on IPL matches

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Four persons were arrested here for for their alleged involvement in betting on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, police said today.

A trap was laid by sending a decoy customer to place a bet on a IPL match and thereafter a police team nabbed the four accused identified as Sanjeev, Suresh, Jitender and Suresh Kashyap, they said.

Police seized Rs 18 lakh cash, one TV and five mobile handsets from their possession.

Foreign Secy visits Herat to review consulate security

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Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh today reviewed the security situation for the Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s Herat which was attacked last week.

Singh flew to Herat in the morning and met the Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha and other senior officials to take stock of the situation during her brief visit which lasted a few hours.

The Foreign Secretary met the brave staff including the ITBP security personnel who repelled the attack on May 23 in which all the four terrorists were killed, officials said.

Herat is over 800 km from capital Kabul.

Indian-Americans script history; jointly win the Spelling Bee

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Two Indian-Americans – Sriram J Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe – today scripted history by becoming co-champions of the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee, after a thrilling final in which they almost exhausted the 25 designated words, the first tie since 1962.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Indian- Americans have retained the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was watched live by millions of people in the US.

An eighth grader from the Alternative School for Maths and Science, Sriram (14) is from New York, while Ansun (13) is a seventh grader from Texas.

Iran Facebook users given lengthy jail terms: report

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An Iranian court has sentenced eight people to jail terms ranging from seven to 20 years for crimes including anti-regime propaganda posted on Facebook, an opposition website has said.

Kaleme, which did not cite a source for its report, said the sentences were delivered last week giving the eight Facebook users a combined 123 years in jail.

They were charged with “insulting the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and the authorities, anti-regime activities, sacrilege and spreading lies,” Kaleme said.

‘Mardaani’ role is quite different from my image: Rani

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Actress Rani Mukerji says her role in upcoming film ‘Mardaani’ is quite opposite of her image.

Rani will play a police officer in ‘Mardaani’ for the first time. The film is directed by Pradeep Sarkar, who last directed her in ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ (2007).

“It (film) is quite contrasting to my image right now. I am excited about the film. I saw the first poster myself today. I was not aware it will be out today. It was a surprise for me as I was shooting. I have no clue when the trailer will be out,” the actress said at an event here last night.

Nissan appoints Guillaume Sicard Deputy President for India

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Japanese auto major Nissan on Thursday appointed Guillaume Sicard as Deputy President of its Indian operations with effect from July 1.

Sicard will report to Nissan India Operations President Kenichiro Yomura and will be responsible for accelerating strategic decision-making and streamlining operational efficiency to help achieve the company’s objectives, Nissan Motor India said in a statement.

Man gets life imprisonment for murdering ex-wife

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A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court for smothering his former wife, who had filed a complaint accusing him of mistreating her.

Additional Sessions Judge Narinder Kumar awarded the jail term to Mohd Rashid, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, for murdering his ex-wife Shajia, 25, in October 2012.

The court said it stands established that Rashid called Shajia from her parental house on phone, took her to a hotel room and murdered her during the night before fleeing.

Govt to set up rape crisis cell: Maneka

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Blaming police laxity for the horrific gangrape of two Dalit sisters in the district, Union Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi today said that a “rape crisis cell” will be constituted for speedy action on such incidents.

Maneka also assured that if the family members of the two girls want, she would recommend a CBI probe into the incident.

“Police laxity is equally responsible for the incident due to which two girls lost their lives. Police is still not acting in the right direction. All policemen involved in the incident should be terminated,” she told PTI over phone.

Chandrababu Naidu calls on Uma Bharti

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Chief Minister-designate of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu called on Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti here today.

Both the leaders discussed various issues concerning water resources and river Projects in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

With reference to a particular issue raised by Naidu, the Minister said “the Union Government will ensure that the interests of the people of both the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are duly taken care of.

Aamir Khan denies being on Instagram

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Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has denied that he has an account on photo-sharing website Instagram and said it is fake.

The 49-year-old actor has accounts in other social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook.

“Guys, I am not on Instagram. It is obviously some fake account,” Aamir posted on Twitter.

Eating grapes may keep your eyes healthy

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Regular grape consumption may play a role in eye health by protecting the retina from deterioration, a new study has claimed.

US researchers found that a grape-enriched diet resulted in a protective effect on retinal structure and function.

The retina is the part of the eye that contains the cells that respond to light, known as photoreceptors. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones.

Retinal degenerative diseases can cause blindness due to photoreceptor cell death.

AP bifurcation will be smooth: Governor

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The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will be a smooth affair and all people, irrespective of their domicile, will be safe in Telangana, Governor ESL Narasimhan said today.

The Governor met Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and had a detailed discussion with him about the ongoing process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

He conveyed to him that all arrangements have been made for creation of Telangana on the appointed day — June 2.

“Bifurcation will be a smooth affair,” Narasimhan told reporters.