Month: May 2014

Mirza-Black progress to Portugal Open quarters

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Top seeds Sania Mirza and Cara Black progressed to the Portugal Open women’s doubles quarterfinals by overcoming Spanish-Chinese pairing Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Shuai Zhang here Thursday.

The Indian-Zimbabwean combine won 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 10 minutes on the clay courts of Sports Complex of Jamor.

Though Silvia and Shuai broke their opponents once in the first set, the top seeds responded by converting two of the seven break points they earned.

MH370 probe: Malaysia recommends real time tracking of commercial airliners

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Malaysia’s transport ministry Thursday released a preliminary report on the investigation into the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 recommending the introduction of a standard for real time tracking of commercial airliners.

“It is recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organisation examine the safety benefits of introducing a standard for real time tracking of commercial air transport aircraft,” the report stated in its safety recommendations.

Punjab minister ordered to do religious penance

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Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia was Thursday ordered by the Sikh high priests to do religious penance at the five temporal seats (Takhts) of the Sikh religion after he distorted a religious hymn during a political event.

The five high priests (jathedars or chiefs) of these temporal seats met at the Akal Takht in Amritsar, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion, Thursday to consider Majithia’s unconditional apology.

Madhya Pradesh launches web portal for panchayats

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Madhya Pradesh Thursday launched a web portal for village panchayats to ensure greater transparency in their functioning.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Antony D’sa launched the “Panchayat Darpan” website at a function here.

“With this launch, Madhya Pradesh becomes the first state to bring transparency in operations of panchayats and maintain continuous audits,” a statement released after the function said.

“This unique portal will enable all accounts be maintained with full details at the

CBI questions ex-coal secretary Parakh

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The CBI Thursday questioned former coal secretary P.C. Parakh over the coal block allocation scam, sources said.

Parakh, 69, appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation at its Delhi headquarters around 11 a.m. and was grilled for over eight hours. He is likely to be questioned Friday too, the sources said.

The investigation agency had served fresh summons to former IAS officer Parakh, seeking his appearance Thursday.

In an earlier summons, issued April 22, the agency told him to appear April 25 but he had expressed his inability to do so.

I will not seek another JKCA presidential term: Abdullah

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Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today said he will not seek another term as president of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) in the elections to be held on May 12.

“I don’t want to stand for (post of) the president this time. I want someone else should come. I have contested enough elections,” Abdullah, who has been heading the JKCA for over three decades, said.

Abdullah said he has called for elections on May 12 following court directions to this effect.

Digvijay Singh should focus on his wedding rather than on Modi: Subramanian Swamy

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said that Congress leader Digvijay Singh should focus on his wedding plans rather than on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“Digvijay Singh should worry about his next wedding, he should focus on that and not on Modi, who is soon going to be the prime minister of the country,” said Swamy.

“The person he is intent on marrying still hasn’t got a divorce therefore he needs to deal with these issues first. He should go on a honeymoon,” he said.

I train my brain even while travelling in bus: Kohli

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Giving an insight into his cricketing mind, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli today said that he prepares for a match by training his brain even while travelling in a bus.

“Even when I am going to the ground in the bus, I keep thinking about the shots I am going to play and to which bowler .. Once you train your brain what to do then obviously when you go out there … You find that perfect zone,” he said in an interview to RCB’s official website.

BSP seeks EC ban on Mulayam for remark against Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party today demanded the Election Commission to ban SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh over his remark against Mayawati.

“Yadav’s remark could have created law and order problem in the state as it might have triggered caste riots. He should be banned from campaigning,” BSP national General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra said in a letter to the EC.

“Mai use kunwari kahun, srimati kahun, ya behen kahun (should I term her (Mayawati) Miss, Mrs or sister,” Yadav had said at the rally in an apparent reference to BSP chief Mayawati.

Report on MH370 points at 4-hour gap before search for plane

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Air traffic controllers failed to notice for 17 minutes that the ill-fated Malaysian jet had gone off the radar and did not activate a rescue operation for nearly four hours, according to a preliminary report on the mysterious disappearance of MH370 released today.

The two details were outlined in the much-anticipated report by Malaysia’s Transportation Ministry released to the public nearly two months after the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 disappeared.

The report was earlier sent to the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the UN body for global aviation.

RBI to issue Rs 100, Rs 50 banknotes with 2014 printing year

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Th Reserve Bank will shortly issue Rs 100 and Rs 50 denomination banknotes of 2014 printing year with rupee symbol in the Mahatma Gandhi series-2005.

“The Reserve Bank will shortly issue Rs 100 denomination banknotes incorporating symbol on the obverse and reverse, with inset letter L in both the numbering panels, in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005 bearing signature of Raghuram G Rajan, Governor, RBI,” the apex bank said in a release.

Banknotes of Rs 50 denomination will be issued with similar features as of Rs 100 banknotes.

Only 18% students from tier 2 biz schools land job offers

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Campus hirings across second rung business schools in the country have been severely hit this year due to economic slowdown, with only 18 per cent students landing job offers after completing the two-year MBA course, says an Assocham survey.

The salary packages offered at these B-schools have also been curtailed by 40-45 per cent as compared to last year, according to the survey of the industry body.

Cases against MPs will be disposed of in a year: Modi

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BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Thursday said that if voted to power, he would request the Supreme Court to dispose of all pending criminal cases against Members of Parliament within a year.

Addressing an election rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) here, he promised to end criminalisation of politics.

“After the formation of the new government, I will request the Supreme Court to complete hearing of all cases pending against MPs in one year. Those who are innocent will remain in Parliament while the guilty will go to jail,” he said.

BJP-RSS systematically stoking communal passions: CPI-M

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CPI(M) today accused BJP-RSS of “systematically stoking communal passions” as a build up to the final phases of polls in the next two weeks, especially in a large number of seats in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

“The next two weeks come as a forewarning to all Indians. Such spread of communal poison and polarisation may fetch the BJP some electoral dividends but that shall be at the grave expense of India’s unity and integrity and communal harmony,” senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

Gambhir blessed with a baby girl

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Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir today became the father of a baby girl as his wife Natasha gave birth to their first child.

Gambhir’s IPL franchise posted the news on its twitter handle.

“Congratulations skipper Gautam Gambhir and Natasha Gambhir for becoming parents to a beautiful baby girl. Welcome to the family,” KKR tweeted.

“From everyone at KKR heartiest congrats and best wishes to Gautam Gambhir and Natasha Gambhir on the birth of a baby girl,” team CEO Venky Mysore wrote on his twitter handle.

Modi represents RSS ideology, says Rahul Gandhi

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BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi represents the ideology of the RSS, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said here Thursday.

Referring to M.S. Golwalkar, the second “Sarsanghchalak” (supreme chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gandhi said Golwalkar believed India made a huge mistake by giving voting rights to women.

He also slammed Modi over his alleged links with the Adani industrial group, saying: “Modiji’s policy is to favour just one businessman, (Gautam) Adaniji”.

Six Al Qaeda militants, two soldiers killed in Yemen

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Up to six Al Qaeda militants and two soldiers were killed following a five-hour clash in Yemen’s southeastern province of Shabwa early Thursday, according to a defence ministry official.

“Scores of Al Qaeda militants attacked army troops after a massive military operation was launched near Azzan town in Shabwa province. Six militants and two soldiers were killed,” the defence ministry official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Heavy machines and artillery were used in the confrontation which took place in Shabwa’s suburbs, the military official said.

YSR looted Andhra to fill coffers of mother-son: Modi

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BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Thursday alleged that Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy during his five-year rule looted Andhra Pradesh and filled the coffers of ‘mother-son’ (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi).

Addressing an election rally here, he said the Congress turned Andhra Pradesh into ‘scam Andhra’ by looting the state for 10 years and appealed to people to decide whether they want to continue the same tradition. He was referring to YSR Congress party led by Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of the late chief minister.

PIL against Lalu Prasad over distribution of party symbols

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A PIL was filed today in the Patna High Court questioning the legitimacy of distribution of the party symbol to candidates by RJD President Lalu Prasad who, it stated, could not hold the post after conviction in a corruption case.

The Public Interest Litigation was filed by rebel RJD MLA Samrat Chaudhary.

Defeat Rahul to end dynastic rule: Kejriwal

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To root out corruption and dynastic rule from the country, Congress Vice-President and candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat should be defeated, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.

Addressing an election rally in support of AAP candidate Kumar Vishwas at Jagdishpur, Kejriwal alleged that Congress has always looted the country and people were sick of inflation, corruption and bad governance.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said people of Amethi were fed up with dynastic rule and an air of change was blowing in the country.

Women Cong workers hold protest against Ramdev’s remarks

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Women Congress workers today held a demonstration outside BJP headquarters here, condemning Yoga Guru Ramdev’s “derogatory” remarks against Rahul Gandhi and Dalits.

The members of Delhi Congress Women Cell also raised slogans against BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi for “backing” Ramdev and demanded action against both.

“We are protesting against Ramdev for his derogatory remarks against Rahul Gandhi and Dalits.

Azam targets EC again, says it cannot behave like God

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Targeting the Election Commission again, SP leader Azam Khan, who has been banned from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, today said it cannot “behave like God” and dared the poll body to cancel his membership of the state Assembly.

“The Election Commission cannot behave like God! Instead it should adopt a line of action best suited for democracy and in the spirit of the Constitution,” Khan told reporters here.

The controversial UP minister also asked the poll body to “exhibit courage” and cancel his membership of the UP Assembly.

Seven Afghan policemen killed in Taliban attacks

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Seven policemen and 20 militants were killed in separate attacks across Afghanistan, authorities said Thursday.

Three Afghan policemen and two militants were killed in a Taliban attack on police checkpoints in Dasht-e-Archi district of northern Kunduz province early Thursday, district governor Hamid Agha told Xinhua.

A local Taliban leader named Mullah Nasim was killed while a militant and a policeman were wounded in a shootout in neighbouring Char Dara district Thursday morning.

Malaysia Airlines asks kin of MH370 passengers to go home

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Malaysia Airlines today asked distraught relatives of the 227 passengers on board the ill-fated Flight MH370 to go back to the “comfort of their own homes” as the search for the plane could be a prolonged one.

“Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends,” the airlines said in a statement.

Flights to Dubai to be hit for 80 days due to runways’ closure

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Several flights to Dubai would be affected for 80 days from today due to the closure of two runways for upgrade, with Jet Airways and Air India Express announcing shifting of most of their operations to neighbouring Sharjah and revising timings of some flights.

While Indigo and Dubai-based Emirates said they would slash some of their flights between India and the UAE city and reschedule some more, Air India said its Chennai-Dubai and Vishakhapatnam-Hyderabad-Dubai flights would be shifted to Sharjah.