Month: January 2015

No Ebola outbreak in country: Somali government

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The Somali government Saturday said there was an Ebola outbreak in the country, saying there were no cases of the disease there.

Health Minister Ali Mohamed Mohamud refuted media reports that there was a suspected Ebola case in the town of Buulo Sharey in the lower Shabelle region, reported Xinhua.

“As soon as we heard the rumours of a case of Ebola in Somalia, we acted quickly and decisively to isolate the alleged victim, a Somali citizen named Abdulkadir Jinow Barow, and those who had been in contact with him,” he said.

Restriction imposed in Nalabana Bird Sanctuary for census

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Ahead of the annual bird census on January 9, Odisha government has imposed restrictions on all activities at the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika Lake.

The restrictions on visit of VIPs, research scholars and other developmental activities with involvement of boats will remain in force till January 10 in the 15.59 sq km bird sanctuary area, Divisional Forest Officer, Chilka Wildlife Division, Bikash Ranajn Das said on Friday.

Robbers kill girl, set body afire in Uttar Pradesh

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An 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly strangulated to death and her body set afire by robbers when she resisted their attempt to loot her house in Ganeshpura area here, police said today.

The incident took place last night in the house of fruit seller Mahesh Jatav.

According to Jatav’s complaint, six robbers barged into his house while the family members were asleep, SP Rajendra Prasad Pandey said.

The robbers entered the upper floor of the house through terrace.

Nearly 500 Hindus convert to Buddhism in Bihar

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Nearly 500 Hindus, including women and children, converted to Buddhism Saturday in half a dozen villages in Bihar’s Gaya district, officials said.

All those converted to Buddhism are resident of Khanjahapur, Usri, Bara, Joda Masjid, Kukra, Beldari, Bansibigha and Tapsi villages under Manpur block in Gaya, about 100 km from here, said a district police official.

“The conversion took place at a Buddhist temple in Khanjahapur village,” said the official.

Basant Mahto, a member of Bodh Gaya-based Mahatma Budh Gayan Ashram, played an important role in the event.

We want good ties with Pakistan: Rajnath Singh

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India wanted good relations with Pakistan, which should not resort to ceasefire violations, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

“Pakistan is our neighbour and we want good relations with all our neighbours,” Rajnath Singh said, responding to a media query on the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

“But the Pakistan government should also take initiative so that ceasefire violations do not take place,” he added.

Three accused in Burdwan blast case sent to NIA custody

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Three persons arrested in Assam for alleged connection with the Burdwan blast case were on Saturday remanded in eight days’ NIA custody by a city court which sent eight other accused to judicial custody till January 16.

Officiating chief judge at Bankshall Court GC Talukdar remanded Saiful Islam, Rafikul Islam and Sahanur Alam, who were brought on a production warrant by this court from Gauhati Central Jail, till January nine.

Reservation alone can’t help Muslim community: Najma Heptulla

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Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla on Saturday said reservation in jobs and education alone cannot ensure the development of Muslims.

“There cannot be overall development of Muslims even if they are given a reservation. What is needed is higher and good-quality education for our children so that they can stand on their feet,” said Heptulla while talking to reporters here.

Syrian troops, Al Qaeda-linked militants clash in Lebanon

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Intense clashes were raging since Saturday morning between the Syrian troops backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front militants in Lebanon.

According to the anti-government Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), violent clashes flared up in the area of Flaita, in the western part of al-Qalamoun, in Lebanon, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, al-Mayadeen TV denied reports that the Nusra fighters managed to storm a Hezbollah position in Flaita, adding that the clashes raged on. No reports of losses, however, have yet emerged.

‘Early voluntary adoption of Ind-AS may be difficult’

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With just three months remaining for roll out of the Indian Accounting Standards (IAS) converged with International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), companies in India as well as their subsidiaries will find it difficult to voluntarily adopt the practice, a research firm said Saturday.

Scientists placed India at world’s forefront: PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the country`s scientists “have placed us at the forefront of the world in many areas”.

“Whenever the world shut its door on us, our scientists responded with the zeal of a national mission,” Modi said while addressing the 102nd Indian Science Congress 2015.

“When the world sought our collaboration, they reached out with the openness that is inherent in our society,” he added.
IANS

BJP targets 10 million membership in Karnataka

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The BJP Saturday will embark on a massive drive to enrol 10 million people as its members in Karnataka over the next three months, party president Amit Shah said Saturday.

“As our main objective is to free Karnataka from the Congress rule, we have set a target of enlisting one crore (10 million) voters as our members by March. We have also launched an online drive to enrol even youth as our members,” he told reporters here.

Pakistan presents amendment bills to set up military courts

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Pakistan on Saturday tabled two major bills in the National Assembly to amend the country’s Constitution for creation of special military courts for speedy trial of terrorists in the aftermath of the deadly Peshawar school attack.

The bills were presented to the parliament after political parties and Army agreed in a marathon meeting yesterday on the mode of setting up the courts.

The 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill and Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2015 were presented in the National Assembly by Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rashid.

LTTE still active overseas: Rajapaksa

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The threat of the LTTE has not been wiped out and the rebel group is still active overseas, a top Sri Lankan defence official has warned while criticising the opposition for seeking to reduce military presence in the Tamil-dominated north.

“Prabakaran was killed but if anyone thinks that the danger has been wiped out its not true. Those who fled are very active overseas,” Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said at a campaign rally of his brother and incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Pak govt challenges 26/11 plotter Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi’s bail in Islamabad High Court

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The Pakistan government on Saturday challenged LeT operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi’s bail in the Islamabad High Court, saying an anti-terrorism court ignored testimony in the 26/11 case while granting bail to the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind.

“We have challenged the Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad’s decision to grant bail to Lakhvi in the Islamabad High Court,” Prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told PTI.

Pakistan warns India of retaliation over cross-border firing

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Pakistan on Saturday appeared to threaten India with retaliation over the killing of its soldiers in cross-border firing, saying it will now “communicate in the language they understand”.

“In the past six-seven months, we have tried to better our ties with India so that peace can prevail. But it seems that they do not understand this language,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters outside the Parliament.

“I believe, we will now communicate with India in the language they understand,” he said.

AAP and BJP supporters clash, AAP candidate’s car set afire

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A car of AAP’s Tughlakabad assembly poll candidate Sahi Ram was on Saturday set ablaze as supporters of Aam Aadmi Party clashed with BJP activists during the shoot of a TV news debate in which leaders of both the parties were engaged in a heated argument.

“During the shoot, heated argument ensued between the two groups which turned into a scuffle and someone set Sahi Ram’s car on fire. We are probing the incident,” said a senior police official.

Left parties to stage protests ahead of Barack Obama’s visit

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Six Left parties would organise demonstrations across the country on January 24, ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit here, to protest US “interference” in India’s internal affairs and the BJP-led government’s “pro-US” policies.

The parties, which met here yesterday, decided to hold the protests on three primary slogans – ‘halt US aggression’ in West Asia and other parts, ‘stop interference in India’s domestic matters’ and ‘stop US-India strategic collaboration’.

Centre gives high priority to uplift of minority: Naqvi

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Reaching out to the minority community in Kerala, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tonight said the Centre gives high priority to the uplift of the community.

44 per cent population in the state is of the minority community and it is a “big chunk”, the minister said, adding, “our responsibility and duty for their empowerment is high” and would do whatever possible for their uplift.

–PTI

Badaun case: Rapist policemen absconding, STF roped in to trace them

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As the two police constables accused of gang-raping a teenage girl in a police station here remained elusive for the third day, Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday asked Special Task Force of state police to trace the duo and suspended two policemen of the station.

Additional Director General of Police (Crime) H S Awasthi said that the STF has been roped in as constables Veer Pal Singh Yadav and Avnish Yadav, both dismissed, were absconding after the crime on the new year eve.

Excessive allegations weaken democracy: PM Modi

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Excessive allegations by the media can weaken democracy, particularly when allegations replace proper criticism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Saturday.

“Criticism can help prevent mistakes and enable reveal the truth. Every decision, every thought must be criticised. If there is no criticism in a democracy, then there is a problem. However, in recent times, there hasn`t been proper criticism, as allegations have replaced criticism,” Modi said during the platinum jubilee celebrations of Marathi newspaper Pudhari here.

AAP and BJP supporters clash, AAP candidate’s car set afire

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A car of AAP’s Tughlakabad assembly poll candidate Sahi Ram was on Saturday set ablaze as supporters of Aam Aadmi Party clashed with BJP activists during the shoot of a TV news debate in which leaders of both the parties were engaged in a heated argument.

“During the shoot, heated argument ensued between the two groups which turned into a scuffle and someone set Sahi Ram’s car on fire. We are probing the incident,” said a senior police official.

Air India receives threat call to blow up Kolkata office

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A threat call was received by the Air India on Saturday evening to blow up their office in Kolkata triggering the airline officials to call for an emergency meeting with Airport Authority of India.

The security at the Kolkata airport has been heightened after the threat call , which was made at around 5:42 pm today. The airline has registered a complaint with the Kolkata police.

Also, it is being reported that air marshals have been deployed on the Air India flights.

The police is trying to figure out whether the call was a hoax.

Fire in Delhi church, management says arson attempt

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A minor fire broke out Saturday in the Christmas crib at a church due to a short circuit in the decorative lights, police said. The church management, however, said it was an arson attempt.

The fire was noticed around 8 a.m. after morning prayers inside the church in Rohini area of northwest Delhi.

Police suspect that the fire was caused due to a spark in the lights used to decorate the tableau, which the church management was to remove in a few days.