Month: July 2014

Chinese hackers have reportedly broken into the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to gain access to the personnel records of all US government employees who had applied for government security clearances.

There was no loss of personally identifiable information, said the Department of Homeland Security that had detected the breach.

The security of OPM is not as tight as the Pentagon’s since it is a civilian agency, reports the Verge.

A new report on the world population has revealed New Delhi as the world’s second most populous city following Tokyo in Japan.

According to The Express Tribune, 2014 revision of the United Nations’ (UN) World Urbanisation Prospects report showed that New Delhi, with a total population of 25 million, is most likely to retain the second spot on the list till 2030. By the time, the metro city’s population is expected to reach 36 million.

The drama in Pakistan Cricket Board continued with the Supreme Court today reinstating Najam Sethi as its Chairman by setting aside a government notification which led to his removal barely a day ago.

The court also set aside a new constitution which had appointed Justice (retd) Justice Ali Shah as caretaker Chairman to hold elections of the board in 30 days time.

The SC issued a statement stating that the government notification had been declared null and void.

Panic created at Himayatnagar area yesterday night when a man accidentally discharged his gun and got injured. The incident is said to have occurred at the office of Shadi.com where one Ramesh reached Shadi.com office. As he tried to sit on chair while talking, he accidentally discharged his gun. The bullet hit his leg. He was rushed to nearby corporate hospital where he is undergoing treatment. Narayanguda police has registered a case and investigations are on.

Siasat news

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday said that we (India) have always wanted to keep good relations with Pakistan.

Rshid Alvi told ANI, “Pakistan always gives these kinds of statement and worsen their relations with us (India)”.

“People from all over the world accept that Kashmir is a part of India,” he added.

The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was allotted the New Delhi office 40 years ago.

Andhra Pradesh government today welcomed the passing of AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2014 by Lok Sabha that will transfer seven mandals in Bhadrachalam revenue division of Telangana to AP.

“This will clear the way for construction of Polavaram multi-purpose project. We will complete it in the next three years,” Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.

The transfer (of mandals) happened due to the efforts of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he said.

Opposition today demanded a detailed response from Government in Rajya Sabha on Iraq issue ruing that there is no data on how many Indians were still stuck up there and said the Centre should show urgency in the matter as was shown during the Gulf war.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, K N Balagopal (Cpi-m” target=”_blank”>CPI-M) said the government should hold a discussion on the Iraq issue, saying only a few of the large number of persons working there having been evacuated so far.

Extending a formal invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a visit to the US, President Barack Obama has expressed keenness to work closely with him to make the bilateral relations a “defining partnership” in the 21st century.

Thanking Obama for the invitation, Modi said he looks forward to a result-oriented visit in September with “concrete outcomes” that impart “new momentum and energy” to the strategic partnership.

Obama’s letter of invitation was handed over to Modi by Deputy Secretary of State William Burns when he called on him here.

The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 3.28 crore for providing relief to riot victims, district authorities said on Friday.

The state government has released more funds of Rs 3.28 crore for riot victims. Relief would be provided to 58 families of riots victims, 52 injured and 70 house owners whose houses got damaged in riots, additional district magistrate Indermani Tripathi told reporters.

The step has been taken on the direction of Supreme Court to provide adequate relief and rehabilitation funds riot victims in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas.

BJP has issued a whip to its members in the Lok Sabha to support a Bill to amend Trai Act which seeks to remove a legal hurdle in the appointment of former Trai chairman Nripendra Misra as principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid uproar by opposition MPs.

The party has issued a whip to the members to support the Bill, said a BJP Lok Sabha member.

The persons and organisations, worried over destruction of heritage structures due to Hyderabad Golf Club, have once again decided to launch a campaign against Hyderabad Golf Club which has gobbled up 112 acre land located under Naya Qila which houses two ancient masajid Masjid; Mullah Khayali and Masjid Mustafa Khan. In this connection various organisations of the city staged demonstrations protest against Hyderabad Gold Club and decided to make representation with the concerned departments and collector.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan says she is a fan of director Rohit Shetty and calls him the “Manmohan Desai of this generation.”

Kareena worked with Rohit in hit films like ‘Golmaal Returns’ and ‘Golmaal 3’.

“According to me, Rohit Shetty is Manmohan Desai of this generation. He is fantastic.

Which actress will not like to work with him? He has given me two of my career’s biggest hit films and the third one (hinting at ‘Singham Returns’) is on the way,” Kareena said in an interview here.

Elated at scoring his maiden overseas hundred and fourth of his career, Indian opener Murali Vijay said his fine effort on the opening day of the first Test against England here was a dream come true for him.

Vijay’s unbeaten 122 on Wednesday helped India hold their own at 259 for four at stumps after electing to bat at Trent Bridge.

“I had been hitting the ball well in practice games and in the nets. So I was in a positive frame of mind and wanted to give the team a good start.

The benchmark BSE Sensex failed to hold initial gains and plunged 197 points during midsession as funds and retail investors indulged in profit-booking amid weak global cues.

After rising to 25,548.33 in morning trade on the back of better-than-expected Q1 earnings by Infosys, the Sensex fell back to trade lower by 197.61 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 25,175.14 at 1230 hours.

Major losers that dragged the Sensex down were metal, power, PSU, capital goods and oil & gas stocks.

The 30-share index had lost 727.33 points in the previous three sessions.

Defending his decision to raise foreign investment cap in the insurance sector to 49 per cent, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has expressed confidence that the proposal would get the support of his party, the BJP.

“What I have, reflects the policy of the government and a party would support the government. This issue has to go to Parliament. I have said that we prefer 49 per cent cap,” he said in an interview to PTI.

Currently foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed up to 26 per cent in the private insurance companies.

Israel pressed on for a fourth day on Friday with its Gaza offensive, striking the Hamas-dominated enclave from air and sea, as Palestinian kept up rocket attacks deep into the Jewish state.

At least 82 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in the offensive, which Israel says it launched to end persistent rocket attacks on its civilian population, some of which have reached Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities.

Meanwhile US President Barack Obama calls Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, offers help to broker ceasefire

Abid Rasool Khan has held ministers and secretaries responsible for non-utilisation of MFD budget. He told this while addressing a press conference here. He told that non recruitment of workers and officer in Minority Welfare Department has affected its performance and for non recruitment of workers and officers ministers and secretaries are responsible. They should have filled the vacant post and improve the performance of minority welfare department.

Keeping in view the fact that young boys and girls working abroad visit Hyderabad during Ramadan, MDF has decided to give them a golden opportunity by holding Du Ba Du programme on Sunday, 13th July, at Imperial Garden, Tolichowki from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oil prices were mixed in Asia today as fears recede about major supply disruptions in the Middle East, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery eased two cents to USD 102.91 while Brent crude was up six cents at USD 108.73 in mid-morning trade.

Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at consultancy firm EY, said oil prices were weighed down by the imminent return of disrupted Libyan exports into a global market already flush with supply.

A low-intensity blast triggered by an IED planted in a bike parked in front of a police station in the heart of the city today left four persons injured, one of them a Constable, even as authorities did not rule out the possibility of involvement of a terror group in the incident.

Though the injuries caused were minor and the blast damaged only two 2-wheelers in the parking lot of Faraskhana police station, it created panic in the area and brought back memories of earlier bomb explosions in the city for which home -grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen was blamed.

US President Barack Obama apologetically jumped the queue at a famous barbecue joint in Austin, where no one cuts the line, so he could order takeout for his official travel party and paid for the two people he jumped ahead of.

After a campaign-style speech in Austin yesterday to raise money for the Democratic Party, Obama made a stop by Franklin Barbecue and was quickly ushered to the front of the line.

It’s common practice to let a president cut to the front of the line at a dining establishment. After all, the president arguably has the busiest schedule on the planet.

Singer-actress Jessica Simpson’s hairstyle for her wedding was inspired by her two-year-old daughter Maxwell.

Her hairstylist Rita Hazan spent six months to highlight her hair to match her daughters.

“Jessica just had to be blonde. She looks her best as a blonde. I wanted her hair to be timeless, so the colour was more of a baby blonde (to match) Maxwell’s colour, with subtle highlights that blend into her hair,” people.com quoted Hazan as saying.

Simpson’s highlights complimented her stunning champagne-coloured Carolina Herrena wedding gown and looked as natural as possible.IANS

President Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is keen to make Hyderabad a slum-free area. To fulfill his vision he has handed over the responsibility to young cadre of his party. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali told this while addressing a felicitation function held by party youth at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram.

Film: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”; Cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirk Acevedo, Jon Eyez, Enrique Murciano, Keir O’Donnell, Kevin Rankin, Jocko Sims; Director: Matt Reeves; Rating: *** and 1/2

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” has all the trappings of a blockbuster. It’s an inter-species survival story that hinges on deception, trust and forgiveness.

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 215.71 points or 0.85 percent down Friday as metal and capital goods stocks tanked.

Good buying was observed in healthcare and IT sectors; while heavy selling pressure was observed in metal, oil and gas, capital goods and banking sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,488.86 points, was trading at 25,157.04 points (at 12.33 p.m.), down 215.71 points or 0.85 percent from the previous day’s close at 25,372.75 points.