Month: November 2014

Russian deputy PM to visit India on Nov 5

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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin arrives in India on Nov 5 for an inter-governmental meet, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a media briefing that Rogozin was arriving to attend the Indo-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, which is co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Rogozin had visited India in June and also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gold prices plunge by Rs 600 to Rs 26,500 on weak global cues

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Gold prices plunged by Rs 600 to Rs 26,500 per 10 grams in the national capital Friday after the precious metal slumped to the lowest level since 2010 in global markets as the strengthening dollar eroded demand for the commodity.

Besides, subdued demand from jewellers and retailers following end of festive season and shifting of funds towards soaring equity markets, weighed on prices of the precious metal.

Silver followed suit and recorded a sharp fall of Rs 1,700 to Rs 36,150 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Fitness sector witnesses growth in Manipur

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The trend of working out in gyms is fast catching up with the people of Manipur. As people increasingly become aware of the need to lead a healthy life, large number of gyms are opening up across the state.

Be it Arambam Bobby or Khundrakpam Pradipkumar – the state has produced many international level bodybuilders.

People in Manipur have the passion to look smart and fit. And, this trend is now become a fashion statement for the young.

In recent years, fitness centres in Imphal city are mushrooming with the growing health consciousness among the people.

PM Narendra Modi greets Karnataka on state formation day

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Karnataka on their state formation day or Kannada Rajyotsava, celebrated today.

“Greetings to people of Karnataka on Kannada Rajyotsava. May Karnataka scale new heights of progress in the years to come,” Prime Minister Modi said.

On this day in 1956, the Kannada speaking regions came together to form the state of Karnataka.

Every year the day is celebrated by organising literary and cultural fest. Those who contributed for the enrichment of Kannada language and culture are honoured by the Chief Minister.

Mushroom cultivation gains popularity as alternative farming option in northeast

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Mushroom cultivation has become a small-scale agriculture alternative for many in the northeast. A profitable venture, mushroom farming is suitable to climatic conditions of the northeastern region.

Realizing the potential of this non-traditional cash-crop, many people in the region are shifting their attention towards mushroom cultivation.

The Ministry of Rural Development runs a special scheme on mushroom farming, which motivates many farmers to adopt this alternative form of farming.

Burdwan blast: NIA announces cash reward for information on absconders

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National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 12 absconders in connection with the West Bengal’s Burdwan blast.

A cash reward of ten lakh rupees each against five absconders, five lakh rupees each for three accused and three lakh rupees for the remaining four suspects has been announced by the NIA.

All of them are alleged to be associated with banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh ( JMB ). They were reportedly conspiring to target installations in Bangladesh.

Housing prices rise in 18 cities by up to 3.9%

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Housing prices appreciated in 18 major cities by up to 3.9 percent in April-June over the preceding quarter while property rates fell in six cities including Delhi, according to National Housing Bank (NHB).

In the national capital, housing prices dropped by 3 percent during the first quarter of this fiscal compared with the January-March 2014.

Maximum price increase was witnessed in Pune by 3.9 percent, while Chandigarh saw highest fall of 4.4 percent, according to NHB’s ‘RESIDEX’.

ITC Q2 net profit at Rs 2,425.16 crore

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Diversified conglomerate ITC Ltd Friday posted a standalone net profit to Rs 2,425.16 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2014.

The company had registered a net profit of Rs 2,230.53 crore in the July-September period of 2013-14.

Standalone total income of the company during the second quarter stood at Rs 9,023.74 crore. It was Rs 7,862.53 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal, ITC Ltd said in a statement.

Now, robots with light-weight limbs that perform more human tasks more gracefully

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A new hybrid fluid transmission has developed robot arms that were light enough to move swiftly and gracefully, yet with precise control.

Hydraulic systems often were used to actuate robots whose limbs needed to be light and to move fluidly. But conventional hydraulics were using a system of valves, which only transmitted power and were unable to absorb power from the environment.

Techie arrested for creating fake Facebook profile, harassing woman

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Cyberabad police on Friday arrested a database programmer with an IT firm at Gachibowli here for allegedly harassing a woman by creating her fake Facebook profile.

Shiva Krishna Tripuraneni, the accused, was arrested after the woman complained that she had received phone calls and SMSes from strangers who sought to befriend her.

She found out that her mobile number had been provided with a fake Facebook profile.

Shiva Krishna, according to police, accessed information about the woman from the database of a portal, with which several job aspirants had registered.

Four arrested for election-time liquor distribution in AP

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The crime investigation department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh Police today said it had arrested four persons including a sub-inspector of Prohibition and Excise Department in connection with smuggling of liquor ahead of this year’s general elections in Nellore district.

Rajendra Nirmal Kumar, a resident of Bangalore, was arrested by CID unit of Nellore yesterday. He was allegedly involved in 10 out of 11 cases in Nellore district.

PM Modi to launch BJP’s membership drive

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Bharatiya Janata Party’s ( BJP) membership drive here on Saturday.

The drive will continue till March next year to enroll new members, aiming to increase party’s cadre strength by four times. The membership of all existing members will also be renewed during the drive as it is mandatory for every member to do so after every six years.

Both, traditional as well as online medium will be used for the membership drive . A toll-free number will also be launched by the party where people can give a missed call to get the membership.

—-ANI

AP doesn’t need to change formation day: YSRCP

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Protesting the TDP government’s decision to change Andhra Pradesh’s formation day to June 2, YSR Congress Party today said it would continue to observe November 1 as the formation day “to honour the sentiments of Telugu people”.

Pak won’t dare to disturb border peace anytime soon: Rajnath Singh

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Asserting that Pakistan has been given a “befitting” reply for violating ceasefire, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Islamabad would not dare to disturb peace at the border anytime soon.

He said Pakistan has been given adequate response for recent transgressions along the LoC and International Border under the new leadership, which is strong and courageous.

“Ab shayad jaldi Pakistan himmat nahi karega” (Now Pakistan would not dare to violate ceasefire in near future),” Singh said addressing a convention of BJP workers here.

India forex reserves up $495.5 mn to $314.77 bn

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India’s foreign reserves shot up by USD 495.5 million to USD 314.177 billion in the week to October 24 due to rise in a key constituent of the assets, according to data released by RBI on Friday.

In the previous week, the reserves had increased by USD 945.6 million to USD 313.682 billion.
Foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major constituent of overall reserves, increased by USD 532.2 million to USD 288.332 billion, RBI said.

FCAs, expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation and depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and yen held in reserves.

4 Indian students win Singapore version of Tata Crucible Quiz

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Four Indian students representing two teams have won the eighth edition of the Tata Crucible Campus Quiz competition held here.

Rohan Naidu from Hyderbad and Shivam Bhardwaj from Patna, comprising the first team, won the first price of SGD 7,000 for National University of Singapore (NUS) yesterday.

Karan Prasad from Bangalore and Sainyam Gautam of Delhi, representing the second team from NUS, took the second prize of SGD 3,000 in the final round of the quiz.

More than 500 students attended the quiz final which saw eight teams from Singapore universities competing.

Pakistan police arrests 2 suspects involved in attack on Benazir Bhutto

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Pakistan police on Friday said they have arrested two members of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban allegedly involved in the deadly attack on slain former premier Benazir Bhutto’s convoy in 2007. The arrests were made during an operation in Karachi’s Garden area.

According to SP CID Usman Bajwa, the arrested suspects were involved in the deadly October 18 attack on Karsaz road. “We have also arrested a target killer who has confessed to killing 20 people,” he said.

The arrested persons have made some important disclosures about the attack on October 18, Bajwa said.

Devendra Fadnavis promises transparent government in Maharashtra

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Promising a transparent administration, Maharashtra’s new Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government will bring in a legislation for better delivery of services to the people.

44-year-old Fadnavis, who was sworn in as Chief Minister of the first BJP government in the state, got down to work immediately and has instructed Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya to have a draft of the Right to Service Bill ready within a month.

China to construct new rail line in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh

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China approved construction of a new strategically important high altitude railway line in Tibet costing about US $6 billion that would come close to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh.

China has approved the feasibility report for the construction of the railway linking Tibet’s capital Lhasa to Nyingchi, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

This high altitude railway will be the second rail link to be built in Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway connecting Xining in neighbouring Qinghai province with Lhasa which became operational in 2006.

14-kosi Parikrama begins in Ayodhya

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The 14-kosi Parikrama started here today with lakhs of pilgrims undertaking a round of the periphery of the holy city to worship Lord Rama, even as tight security arrangements were made for the occasion. Around 12 lakh devotees undertook the ‘parikrama’, said SP (City) R A Gautam.

He said tight security arrangements have been made for the event as 10 companies of PAC and two companies of CRPF, besides 2,000 civil policemen have been deployed.

Nokia not to make handsets in India anymore

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Nokia, once an iconic mobile handset maker, is shutting down its India plant Saturday at Sriperumbudur near here, a company spokesperson said.

“As announced earlier (October 7), we are stopping handset production at our Chennai plant from tomorrow (November 1) in the absence of orders from our new parent firm (Microsoft), which terminated the mobile purchase agreement,” a Nokia India official said on Friday.

Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun to tour South Africa with Mumbai club

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Sachin Tendulkar’s Arjun will be leading a Mumbai club Worli CC’s U-18 side to South Africa for a pre-season exposure tour that starts on November 2.

This is Tendulkar junior’s second exposure tour to South Africa. The left-handed batsman was the top scorer during Worli CC’s last visit to South Africa, where he impressed one and all with some good knocks.

Worli CC are scheduled to play 10 limited overs matches of 45 overs-a-side against some top schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Potchefstroom.

Uddhav’s presence during Maha CM swearing-in ceremony ‘heartening’: BJP

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday hailed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s presence during the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling it a positive and heartening step.

“We had Uddhav Thackeray, his wife and the whole family on the stage. I think it is a very positive and a heartening step taken by Thackeray to be present on the stage in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told the media.

Rudy further termed Thackeray’s presence during the ceremony as a ‘good beginning’ for the politics of Maharashtra.

Indian appointed to UN peacekeeping panel

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed Abhijit Guha, a retired Indian Army Lieutenant General, to a high-level panel to assess UN peace operations.

Announcing the formation of the 14-member panel Friday, Ban said it would make a comprehensive assessment of UN peace operations and the needs of the future and its recommendations would be sent to next year’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. Its mandate, he said, will include the changing nature of conflict, evolving mandates and capabilities for peacekeeping operations and performance.

Civil Rights Society meeting today

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Association for protection of Civil Rights which is active in the field of Human Rights. It creates awareness among the people about civil rights and also provides legal aid to the needy. A meeting of the activists of this society will be held at 6 p.m. today at A.M. Arcade, Pillar Number 87, Ring Road, Hyderabad. Justice E. Ismail, President of the Society will preside over the meeting.

–Siasat News