Month: October 2014

PIA took 34 Indian passengers to a Pak hotel without visa: FIA

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Pakistan’s national carrier PIA allegedly took 34 Indian transit passengers to a hotel in Lahore to stay for a night though they did not have a Pakistani visa, prompting authorities to launch a probe.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said in a report that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crew allegedly took the Indians out of the airport bypassing the check points manned by FIA.

The Indian passengers flew from New Delhi on a PIA flight to Saudi Arabia with a stopover in Pakistani city of Lahore, an official said.

Starting tomorrow, ATM use over 5 times/month will attract fee

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Using ATMs to withdraw money or for other purposes like balance enquiry beyond five times in a month will attract a levy of Rs 20 per transaction from tomorrow.

As per the Reserve Bank’s new guidelines that comes into force from tomorrow, bank customers in six metros– Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore– are allowed to withdraw money and/or carry out non-financial transactions like mini-statements at ATMs of banks, where they hold saving/current accounts, free of charge only five times a month.

Nithari killings: Allahabad HC stays order on Surinder Koli’s death sentence

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The Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the execution order on the death sentence of Nithari killings convict Surinder Koli till November 25.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed Koli’s petition seeking a review of the judgment confirming his death sentence.

The apex court bench headed by then Chief Justice-designate Justice H L Dattu had on September 12 stayed the execution of Koli till October 29 and had scheduled the hearing on October 28.

Younis fires double ton in Pak’s 570-6 declared on day two of second Test against Oz

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Pakistan put up a massive total of 570-6 declared on day two of the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi, thanks to a double ton from veteran batsman Younis Khan and a ton each from skipper Misbah-ul Haq and batsman Azhar Ali.

Pakistan declared the first innings after putting up 570 runs for the loss of six wickets in 164 overs on day two.

Ali played a massive innings to put up 109 runs off 250 deliveries before he was caught by David Warner of paceman Mitchell Starc ‘s delivery.

‘Unmonitored TB drugs can lead to liver failure’

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Shashi Chawla (name changed) was suspected of having uterine tuberculosis (TB) and was put on anti-TB drugs. After being on medication for over eight months, she went into a coma as the dosage was not monitored. Experts warn that laxity in monitoring medicines can lead to liver failure.

It was only when she was put on ventilator and shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for an emergency liver transplant that her condition improved.

Similar to Chawla’s case, the hospital has received two other cases where the patients went into a coma.

Aligarh Muslims flay Bukhari for Sharif invite

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A Muslim forum here Friday accused the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid of insulting Indian Muslims by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but not his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the 17th century mosque to mark his son’s appointment as the Naib Imam.

The Forum for Muslim Studies and Analysis (FMSA) also asked the Indian government to end by an act of parliament the “un-Islamic Imamat” that allows the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid to designate his successor from his own family.

No gender bias, insensitivity in passport matters, says MEA

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India’s external affairs ministry Friday sharply rebutted reports that a single parent, especially a woman, is required to state, while applying for passport for her child, how she conceived the child, saying it does “not countenance insensitivity or gender discrimination” in passport matters.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin strongly denied a media report saying that a lawyer appearing for the ministry had told the Bombay High Court that an unwed mother applying for her child’s passport must declare how she became pregnant and if she was raped.

No plans for Modi-Sharif meeting at SAARC: India

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India Friday denied any plans for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during the SAARC summit in Kathmandu.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, in answer to a query at a briefing, said there is “no such proposal at hand” and that the issue is not under discussion.

He added that no request has been received from Pakistan for such a meeting and that “there is no request that we intend to give”.

Telangana gets 3 TMC Krishna water to generate power

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The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) Friday allowed Telangana to use three TMC (thousand million cubic) feet water to generate electricity till Nov 2 to tide over the acute shortage in the state.

The board announced its decision after hearing governments of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at its two-day meeting which concluded here Thursday.

The decision was conveyed to water resources secretaries of both the states. The board believes that the demand for electricity may come down after Nov 2.

Petrol, diesel rates cut by over Rs.2 per litre

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Petrol and diesel prices were cut Friday by over Rs.2 per litre each, effective minight, IndianOil Corp announced.

While petrol will be cheaper by Rs.2.41 a litre in Delhi, diesel will cost Rs.2.25 less per litre.

Prices of both fuels were also reduced earlier this month on the back of declining international oil prices.

–IANS

Raja, others charged with money laundering, trial from Nov 11

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The special court hearing the 2G spectrum allocation case has framed charges of money laundering against former telecom minister A. Raja, his party colleague and DMK MP Kanimozhi and others, and fixed Nov 11 for commencing the trial.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini framed the charges Friday. The accused have been booked under various sections dealing with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

SC notice to Gujarat on farmers’ suicides

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The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the Gujarat government on a petition seeking compensation to families of debt-ridden farmers who committed suicide for being unable to come out of financial distress.

“Notice”, said the apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit in their order as senior counsel Colin Gonsalves appearing for the NGO Citizens Resource & Action Initiative (CRANTI) addressed the court on the petition.

ECOWAS calls for calm and dialogue in Burkina Faso

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Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) John Dramani Mahama Friday urged the political class in Burkina Faso to hold a dialogue to arrive at a political consensus.

The Ghanaian president said the sub-regional body had followed with grave attention events unfolding in Burkina Faso and the tension around the process leading to the consideration of the draft bill on constitutional amendment, Xinhua reported.

Boko Haram seizes control of Nigerian town

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Militants of the Boko Haram radical Islamist group have seized the important northeastern Nigerian town of Mubi, days after the government confirmed that ceasefire negotiations were still continuing, media reported on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said that Boko Haram attacked the second most populous town in the state of Adamawa Friday as the group’s fighters clashed with Nigerian forces.

Citing the witnesses, the daily Nigeria Today reported that the militants stormed and burned the police headquarters and opened the doors of the prisons.

IS now teaching ‘how to be good wives of jihad’

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The notorious militant organisation Islamic State (IS) appears to have started influencing women by providing guidelines on how to be the ultimate wives of IS fighters in Syria and Iraq.

These guidelines are being distributed by the militant group’s new media arm The Zora Foundation, the latest IS media group operating across social networks.

IS regularly release propaganda showing brutal executions and violent atrocities, training regimes for fighters and threats to the West as the US-led coalition air strikes continue.

RJD slams Shahi Imam’s snub to PM Modi

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The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Friday slammed the Jama Masjid Shahi Imam’s snub to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the latter must be given the respect that his office commands.

“The Shahi Imam’s actions are against propriety and protocol. First of all, in a secular state there is no space for these kinds of religious extravaganzas. I think that the Shahi Imam probably does not realise that he does not represent the Muslims of India,” RJD leader Manoj Jha told ANI.

BJP delegation complains against administration to WB Governor

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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met West Bengal Governor K .N. Tripathi here on Friday and expressed resentment over the state administration’s refusal to allow its fact-finding team to visit violence-hit Makra village in Birbhum district.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal chief Rahul Sinha, who led the delegation to the Governor, charged the state police with committing atrocities in regions where Section 144 has been imposed.

Sinha alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee does not trust the state police.

Sahara chief shells out Rs 31 L for Tihar’s special facilities

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Sahara group has paid Rs 31 lakh to Tihar jail authorities as charges for stay of its chief Subrata Roy in an air-conditioned facility and using services like phone, internet and video conferencing for 57 days to negotiate sale of his luxury hotels abroad. Reuters file photo
Sahara group has paid Rs 31 lakh to Tihar jail authorities as charges for stay of its chief Subrata Roy in an air-conditioned facility and using services like phone, internet and video conferencing for 57 days to negotiate sale of his luxury hotels abroad.

Court reserves order in Musharraf’s high treason case

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A special court here Friday reserved judgement on dismissing the high treason case against Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf and others till Nov 21.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab resumed hearing of the case earlier in the day during which Musharraf’s counsel Farogh Naseem submitted a rejoinder in the court, Geo News reported.

Gandhi was incomplete without Sardar Patel: PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raked up the anti-Sikh violence that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi this day 30 years ago and said it was a “dagger” in the centuries-old fabric of India’s unity as he dedicated the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as National Unity Day.

With the aim of according the ‘Iron Man of India’ his place in history, the government said the event was not an attempt to belittle the contribution of any other leader.

Fadnavis takes over as first BJP CM of Maharashtra

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He took the oath of office in Marathi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other BJP stalwarts at a grand function in Wankhede Stadium here.

The 44-year-old Fadnavis, a four-term MLA from Nagpur, exchanged pleasantries with Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao after taking the oath of office. Fadnavis today became the first leader from the BJP to head the state government.

ICC People’s Choice Award trophy showcased in Noida

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The ICC’s LG People’s Choice award was on Friday brought face-to-face with Indian cricket fans by the consumer durables brand at an exclusive preview of the Trophy here.

The LG People’s Choice Award is a category that recognises the best Cricketing talent of the year, voted by fans from across the globe.

The fifth edition of LG People’s Choice award has five players from the similar number of countries nominated to win the only award voted for and by the public at the annual Awards.

Ajay Devgan is co-owner of Delhi Dreams in Champions Tennis League

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Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan along with businessman Sanjeev Kassal were on Friday revealed as owners of the Delhi franchisee of the Champions Tennis League (CTL) even as Cyprus star Marcos Baghdatis replaced Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Pune team.

The ‘Delhi Dream’ was launched in the presence of Vijay Amritraj, the brain behind the league. However, the veteran actor could not make it to the capital.

Kassal, Director of First Serve Sports Private Ltd, said Delhi was a “city of aspirations” so they chose such a name for their team.