Month: May 2014

Pakistani woman stoned to death by family ‘for love marriage’

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A Pakistani woman was stoned to death by her family outside the Lahore High Court for marrying against their wishes.

Police said Farzana Bibi died on the spot after being attacked with bricks and sticks.

According to the BBC, after the incident the 30-year woman’s father surrendered before the police, but her brothers and former fiancee, who also stone Bibi to death, escaped.

Bibi’s parents accused her husband, Muhammad Iqbal, of kidnapping her, and had filed a case against him at the High Court.

However, she testified to police that she had married him of her own accord.

Taliban say US troop withdrawal plan is ‘continued occupation’

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The Taliban today condemned President Barack Obama’s announcement that US troops would stay in Afghanistan until the end of 2016.

“Now that Obama has announced that he will keep around 10,000 troops until the end of 2016 and continue their occupation, Afghanistan Islamic Emirate condemns it and considers it a violation of sovereignty, religion and human rights,” said a statement, using the insurgents’ name for the country.

Jaitley nod for inflation, wow to revive growth

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Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan and Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who will share a crucial bond as the Narendra Modi government seeks to revive the economy and tame prices, were cautious to speak the language of balance with the next monetary policy announcement due in less than a week.

Jaitley spoke of “balancing” the fight against inflation with the need to nurture growth after they met in Delhi on Tuesday.

Iran reports its first 2 cases of MERS virus

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Iranian media say the country has recorded its first two cases of the potentially fatal Middle East respiratory virus, first reported in Saudi Arabia two years ago.

The kingdom has been the focal point of the outbreak of the virus, known as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Iran’s Hamshahri daily today quoted health ministry official Mohammad Mahdi Gouya as saying the virus was confirmed in two sisters in Kerman in southeastern Iran. One was reported to be in critical condition.

Gouya says there are also two other suspected cases, from the same family as the sisters.

Government will reduce interest rates on home loans: Naidu

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The interest rates on home loans will be reduced, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu announced Wednesday.

Soon after taking charge of the ministry here Wednesday, Naidu said that interest rate reduction is necessary if housing for all has to be achieved.

“Housing is our top priority area and I will be taking up this matter with my colleague (Arun Jaitley) who is the finance minister,” he told reporters.

“We will intervene and bring down the interest rates for housing a little. That will be my priority.”

Former Pakistan President Zardari acquitted in graft case

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Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was today acquitted in a corruption case related to the illegal construction of a polo ground at the Prime Minister House when his wife Benazir Bhutto was the premier.

An accountability court in its verdict said the accused has not been proven guilty.

Zardari’s counsel Farook Naek told the court that not a single witness testified against the defendant.

He also said the records submitted by the prosecution were not genuine, as they were photocopies and have no legal significance.

Modi use business the way out with Pak

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained a tough stance on terrorism in his meeting with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. On Tuesday, in the bilateral meeting held here, Modi said that India is prepared to go for full trade normalization with Pakistan based on the road map already agreed to by both countries.

Simultaneously, Modi asked Sharif to speedily try and punish those found guilty in the 26/11 attack on Indian Parliament and also prevent its territory from being used to spread terror against India.

India to have third-largest Twitter population by 2014

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India will account for the third-largest user base on micro-blogging site Twitter at 18.1 million by the end of this year, research firm eMarketer said.

EMarketer, in its first forecast of Twitter users worldwide, said Asia-Pacific will account for 32.8 per cent of Twitter users, compared with 23.7 per cent in North America in 2014.

The research firm said growth for Twitter is heavily weighted in emerging markets, with India and Indonesia to see the most consistent growth patterns.

Postal stamps on Narendra Modi issued in Bihar

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A set of four postal stamps and a special cover on Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceptualised by a philatelist from Bihar has been issued by the Department of Posts (DoP).

“I conceptualised the stamps and special cover to mark the ascendancy of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India. It was a popular event and not only our own country but the entire world was watching it with keen interest. The DoP issued it under ‘My Stamp’ series on May 26, the day he took oath,” philatelist Pradeep Jain said.

Husband changes statement, accepts murdering wife

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A 22-year-newly married woman was first poisoned and then bludgeoned to death allegedly by her husband over a dispute in a field near here, police said today.

In an apparent U-turn, husband Raju Bairwa today admitted to have killed his wife Mamta after narrating a different version to the police yesterday.

It is not even a month since the victim was murdered brutally in an agriculture field in Phagi, 51 kms from here, they said, adding, they had gotten married on May 2.

Goodwill gesture: Nawaz Sharif reaches ailing Atal

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At what time Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he stir up memories of his invitation to then PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to Lahore in February 1999. He wanted to revisit the Lahore Declaration, Sharif said, and pick up the threads from where things had to be abandoned in October 1999.

If there was any uncertainty about the sincerity of his assertion, he followed it up with an actual meeting on Tuesday with Vajpayee who has been paralyzed for many years now.

Gold dips below Rs 28,000-level on weak global cues

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Gold prices dipped below Rs 28,000-level for the first-time in 10-months by plunging Rs 400 to Rs 27,700 per ten grams in the national capital today on sustained selling by stockists and a weak global trend.

Silver also fell by Rs 400 to Rs 41,000 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said persistent selling by stockists, tracking a weak trend overseas where gold fell to over 15-week low as positive US economic data backed the case for the Federal Reserve to keep on reducing monetary stimulus, mainly pulled down gold prices.

PM told Sharif talks will be lost amid blasts: Sushma

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif that if bomb blasts continue, then peace talks between the two countries will be lost in the din, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday.

“Talks and good relations can be successful and right only when terrorism is stopped. But if bomb blasts continue, then the talks will be lost in the din. This is what Narendra Modi told Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” said Sushma Swaraj, who took charge of her ministry Wednesday.

Should sugary drinks carry a health warning?

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Sugar sweetened drinks should carry health warnings similar to those seen on insecticides, cigarettes and other toxic products, according to a UK scientist.

According to Professor Simon Capewell, from the University of Liverpool, the State of California in US is considering a new health bill which will see sugary drinks labelled with health warnings, vending machines to bear warning labels, and fines of between USD 50 and USD 500 per failed inspection.

Capewell thinks this is a good idea, and one that the UK public would support.

Will comment on Modi govt after six months: Akhilesh

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The Samajwadi Party will wait and watch the Narendra Modi government’s performance in the next six months, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said.

“I will comment on Modi after six months. Let us see his performance in this period”, Yadav told reporters.

Yadav was here to pay tributes to party leader Satairam Yadav, who died in an accident on May 19.

On the issue of corruption, Akhilesh said that his government was acting on such complaints and taking action against those involved in it.

Man arrested for raping 13-year-old disabled niece

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A 35-year-old labourer from Boisar in Palghar taluka here was arrested for allegedly raping his physically and mentally challenged niece over the last six months, district rural police said today.

According to PSI, B L Rathod of Boisar police station, accused Vijay Sakharam More, living in Salvad of Dandi Pada has been sexually abusing his brother’s 13-year-old daughter since six months. He used to take the girl to his house and assault her, police said quoting the complaint by the victim’s mother after she came to know about the crime.

Issues raised by states will be considered on priority: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made it clear that he will work for strengthening the federal structure of the country and would like his office to consider issues, especially those raised by the states on priority and with sensitivity.

Holding his first formal meeting with officials of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) a day after taking charge, he laid thrust on leveraging modern technology and developing systems and processes for effective monitoring and resolution of issues which are particularly brought to his office.

Coal India chief resigns, hopes to play key role in Telangana

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Coal India Chairman and Managing Director S Narsing Rao has resigned, seeking to play a key role in the new state of Telengana.

“I have put in my papers three to four days back and I am waiting for the new government to relieve me from the post,” Rao told PTI.

Minister of State for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal assumed office yesterday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 45-member council of ministers were sworn in on May 26.

Bomb planted under culvert in Bihar recovered and defused

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A bomb planted by Maoists under a culvert in a village in Bihar’s Banka district was recovered by security forces today.

The bomb was found under the culvert on the Bhaluar-Lutua road in Bhotadih village during a combing operation by the CRPF and Gaya police, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar Singh said.

The bomb was later defused by the bomb-disposal squad, he said.

Andhra Governor gets additional Telangana charge

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Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan has been given the additional charge of Telangana, Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Wednesday.

Narasimhan was appointed by President Pranab Mukherjee “to discharge the functions of the governor of Telangana, in addition to his own duties until a permanent arrangement is made”, said an official statement.

“The above appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” it added.

Andhra Pradesh will be bifurcated and a separate state of Telangana come into existence on June 02. It will be India’s 29th state.

—IANS

Shabana Azmi meets Nawaz Sharif

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Veteran actress Shabana Azmi met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a tea party hosted by a steel tycoon here last evening.

The 63-year-old actress said she was delighted to know Sharif, who was in the Capital to attend PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in on May 26, is an admirer of her father Kaifi Azmi, singers Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

“Over tea at Sajjan Jindals… Met Nawaz Sharif yesterday. Delighted that he is fan of Kaifi saab, Lataji and Mohd Rafi,” Shabana posted on Twitter.

Jammu and Kashmir integral part of India: RSS

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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Wednesday hit back at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the state would remain an integral part of India irrespective of Article 370 being repealed or not.

“J&K won’t be part of India? Is Omar thinking its his parental estate? (Article) 370 or no 370 J&K has been and will always be an integral part of India,” RSS spokesman Ram Madhav wrote on his Twitter handle.

Abdullah Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir would not be a part of India if Article 370, which grants special status to the state, is revoked.

Rajnath meets RSS leaders over new BJP chief

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday met senior RSS leaders here to discuss the choice of the new BJP president, informed sources said.

Sources said some of those being considered to be the party’s new president include Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretaries J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, and P. Muralidhar Rao, and party leader Om Mathur.

Sources said that Nadda is being viewed as the front-runner for the post.

The meeting was held at RSS office in central Delhi and it was attended by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and other RSS leaders.

Sharif-Modi meeting outcome better than expected: Sartaj Aziz

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The outcome of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with new Indian Premier Narendra Modi in New Delhi Tuesday was better than expected, Sharif’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz said Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here Wednesday after Sharif and his delegation returned from the swearing-in ceremony of Modi as India’s new prime minister, Aziz said the meeting between Sharif and Modi was not just a photo op, but its outcome proved better than anyone’s expectations.