Month: December 2014

FBI warns U.S. military against IS’ homegrown threat to armed force’s members

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned the United States military against the Islamic State (IS) saying that the militant group is looking for like-minded people in the U.S. to launch these attacks.

According to CNN, the FBI also requested the members of the military to review their online social media presence for any information that might attract the militants’ attention.

The military was also advised to cautiously practice operational security when posting.

Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam becomes first cricketer ever to take ‘hat-trick’ on debut

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Bangladesh debutant spinner Taijul Islam has become the first cricketer to take a hat-trick on international debut in the 50-over format, guiding the team to beat Zimbabwe by five wickets to win the series 5-0.

The left- arm spinner claimed 4-11in Dhaka, thereby becoming the fourth Bangladesh bowler to get a hat-trick. Tinashe Panyangara, John Nyumbu, Tendai Chatara were the batsmen to be dismissed by the bowler, Stuff.co.nz reported.

On the other hand, Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3-30 as Zimbabwe collapsed for a mere 128 runs, despite making a solid start.

Birds choose mates through ‘sense of smell’

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A new study has revealed that birds might choose their mating partners through odor.

The researchers from Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology at the Vetmeduni Vienna, compared the preen gland chemicals of black-legged kittiwakes with genes that play a role in immunity. Kittiwakes that smell similarly to each other also have similar genes for immunity. Since the birds prefer to mate with unrelated mates, the scientists have now found the likely mechanism by which they recognize relatedness.

119 nationalities sing UAE national anthem to set new world record

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United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently entered into Guinness Book of World Records after school students managed to sing their national anthem with 119 nationalities together.

The record was claimed after GEMS students, parents and staff as they successfully sang Ishy Baladi (Long live my nation) which is the UAE national anthem, Gulf News reported.

Did not target people or parties but separatists: Sadhvi Niranjan

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Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, who recently came under strong criticism for using an abusive language while addressing voters in a campaign, on Tuesday said that she did not mean to target any particular person or party but separatists.

“I did not take name of any particular individual, community or party. I was talking about separatist parties and leaders who think of dividing the country and who do not consider themselves to be a part of India,” said Jyoti.

Committed to strong ties with UAE: PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday greeted the people of the United Arab Emirates on the occasion of its national day, and said India was committed to further strengthening ties with the UAE.

“I convey my greetings to people of UAE on their national day. We are committed to further strengthening ties with the UAE in the years to come,” he tweeted.

–IANS

Constable shot dead by criminals in Meerut

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A constable was on Tuesday killed and another injured when criminals opened fire on the policemen who tried to stop them from fleeing.

One of the assailants was later killed in a shoot-out with a police team, Circle Officer Rupesh Sharma said, adding constable Ekant Yadav, 24, suffered fatal injuries in the attack by the criminals.

Constables Lokesh Bhati and Yadav were on night patrol when they received information at 2 am about presence of two criminals at a shop near a tyre factory in Lisadi gate area.

BJP parliamentary board meets in Delhi

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Bharatiya Janata Party’s parliamentary board is meeting here on Tuesday.

The meet is being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as BJP president Amit Shah.

Also present on the occasion are party veteran LK Advani and Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj.

Shah also released a booklet on PM Modi’s recent foreign trips at the meet.

US Man Fined in Saddam Hussein Family Gun Plot

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A man who pleaded guilty to trying to sell firearms believed to have been owned by Saddam Hussein’s family was fined USD 5,000 by a federal judge.

Howard Blumenthal, 76, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, had faced up to five years in prison.

Seven guns with an estimated value of USD 250,000 to USD 350,000 were seized in December 2012. Among the firearms were a .357 semi-automatic pistol featuring a gold medallion “QS.” That’s presumed to indicate the late Iraqi president’s son, Qusay.

Rahul Gandhi made BJP’s victory easy: Amit Shah

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Criticising Congress and JMM for the prevailing state of affairs in Jharkhand, BJP President Amit Shah said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made BJP’s victory easy wherever he went for campaigning.

“It had become easy for BJP to win the seats wherever Rahul had campaigned in the last parliamentary polls. This is also happening in the Assembly elections in Jharkhand,” Shah said while addressing an election rally in favour of party candidate Madhav Lal Singh, a sitting MLA at Gomia in Bokaro district today.

Urdu exams of Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust on Jan. 25

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According to Mohammed Habeeb-ur-Rahman incharge, Urdu Dani, Zaban Dani, and Insha exams of Abid Ali Khan Trust will be conducted on Sunday, January 25, 2015, from 10 am to 1 pm. No fee is collected for the exam.

The Abid Ali Khan Trust established in June 1994 conducts exams twice a year to promote Urdu education among new generation. Classes are being conducted on the following centres for preparation of the exam.

Muslims, Christians sons of Ram, skeptic leave India: BJP minister

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Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has sparked off a controversy by claiming that everyone including Muslims and Christians are sons of Ram.

While asserting her point and convincing people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party, she added that those who do not believe in this ideology, do not belong to India. “It is for you to decide, whether you want to vote for those who believe in Ram or those who are non-believers,” she said.

Gujarati Dal

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Ingredients
To pressure cook dal –

Toor dal (Pigeon peas) – ½ cup
Peanuts – 1 tablespoon
Water – 1 cup

Other ingredients –

Water – 2 cups
Red chili powder – ½ teaspoon
Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
Tomato – ¼ cup, chopped
Green chili – 1, slit
Ginger paste – ½ teaspoon
Jaggery – 1 tablespoon **Notes
Salt – to taste
Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon **Notes
Cilantro – few sprigs, chopped

For Seasoning (Tadka) –

Oil – 1 tablespoon
Mustard seeds – ¼ teaspoon

aloo palak curry

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INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

1 bunch palak/spinach
1 or 2 green chilies
1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
1 medium sized tomato, chopped
3 medium sized potatoes/aloo
2 tbsp oil or ghee or butter
1 inch cinnamon
1 cup water
1 small indian bay leaf
¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
a pinch of asafoetida/hing
¼ or ½ tsp garam masala powder
1.5 tbsp besan/gram flour or makai ka atta/maize flour
3garlic + ½ inch ginger – crushed or made into a paste in a mortar-pestle
3 cloves

People’s role crucial in ensuring good governance: Vinod Rai

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Former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai today said good governance is “too critical” to be left alone to the government.

“Good governance is too critical to be left alone to the government today. Public partnership here is of utmost necessity. Those sitting in the government should constantly be aware that they are under surveillance all the time,” Rai said, delivering a lecture organised by Public Concern for Governance Trust.

WHO says Liberia, Guinea meeting Ebola targets

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Liberia and Guinea have met a Dec. 1 target for isolating 70 per cent of people infected with Ebola and safely burying 70 per cent of those who die, the World Health Organization said today.

Only last week, the UN health agency had said only Guinea was on track to meet the targets for getting the deadly Ebola outbreak under control in the three hardest-hit West African countries.

Lawyers irked after traffic police allegedly manhandle judge

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Lawyers affiliated to the Visakhapatnam Bar Association today launched a two-day strike to protest alleged ill-treatment meted out to junior civil judge M Kasiviswanadha Achari by the traffic police.

The lawyers demanded suspension of a traffic sub-inspector, a police constable and a home guard attached to V-Town police station.

The judge’s car was stopped by a police constable and a home guard on Saturday night during a drive against drunk drivers. He was allegedly abused and roughed up by the policemen.

Har CM meets Union power min, seeks aid for 24-hr supply

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today met Power Minister Piyush Goyal to seek uninterrupted power supply for his state along with mechanisms for effective electricity generation and transmission.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for round-the -clock power for the people of the country, Lal said that the Haryana government is committed to ensuring the same for consumers in the state. Towards that end, the state government has also initiated a process to coordinate with the Centre.

Policy for benefit of martyrs’ families coming soon: CM

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government would frame a policy whereby certain privileges can be granted to the kin of posthumous recipients of bravery medals.

The Chief Minister today met families of martyrs of 26/11 terror attacks here.

Saying that other states grant some benefits to families of those who were awarded bravery medals posthumously, the CM said these schemes would be studied.

Those present at the meeting included the wife of the senior police inspector Vijay Salaskar of Mumbai police who was killed during the attacks.

J-K DGP asks police force to implement security plan for polls

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Asking police force to implement the security plan prepared for polling booths in the second phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, state DGP Rajendra Kumar today said effective measures have been taken to ensure the democratic process in a peaceful manner.

“Smooth conduct of elections in the state has remained on top concern for the Jammu and Kashmir Police from time to time and effective measures have been taken to strengthen the security grid to ensure the democratic process in a peaceful manner,” Kumar said.

Soon, mandatory crash test norms for passenger cars

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will soon come out with mandatory crash testing norms for passenger cars.

“The government is planning to mandate the offset frontal crash test and side impact crash test norms for passenger cars,” Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan informed the Rajya Sabha Monday.

To meet these regulations, majority of car manufacturers will need to have several in-built safety devices, including air bags.

Property sizes in Mumbai region falling since 2012: Survey

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Sizes of homes across the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) are shrinking over the past two years as real estate players are developing small-sized properties keeping in mind the price factor.

The home size has decreased by as much as eight per cent since 2012 and the trend is likely to continue as the population grows and property prices increase, property portal Commonfloor said in its study.

“…Since 2012, it may be found that property sizes have constantly decreased, while prices have almost remained the same or marginally increased,” it said.

Haiti police say about 30 inmates in prison break

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About 30 prisoners escaped from a jail in a provincial city north of the Haitian capital, a police official said today.

The male prisoners managed to cut the bars of the jail in Saint Marc, jump to an adjacent Catholic church and flee into the night, said Charles Roubins, an investigator with the Haitian National Police.

Authorities were still attempting to determine the number of prisoners who escaped and none have been recaptured. Details about the men who escaped were not immediately available.

One officer has been detained on suspicion of aiding the escape, Roubins said.

Dutch court jails Syria jihadist, frees wife

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A Dutch court sentenced a jihadist to three years in prison today for fighting in Syria, reportedly the first penalty of its kind in the Netherlands.

The Hague district court convicted the 20-year-old man, identified only as “Maher H” under Dutch privacy laws, for having fought in the Syrian conflict.

His wife, aged 20, was acquitted of recruiting two women to go to Syria to marry jihadists. The court found that wives of jihadists are not necessarily taking part in armed combat.