Month: January 2015

Lakhvi in 14-day custody, Pakistan hits out at Indian ‘hype’

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Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was sent to 14 days’ judicial custody in an abduction case by a court here Thursday, even as Pakistan termed “unfortunate” the “unnecessary hype” created by India over the issue and also questioned lack of action in the Samjhauta blast case.

The judicial remand order came as Lakhvi’s two-day physical remand in the kidnapping case expired Thursday.

The physical remand was ordered when Lakhvi was awaiting release as the Islamabad High Court suspended his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

‘Delhi polls will be a fight between AAP and BJP’: Sisodia

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Dismissing any chance of the Congress’ comeback in the national capital, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday said the fight will be between his party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls.

“There is resentment within the people towards the Congress. It will be a fight between AAP and BJP in Delhi, the people want to bring us back,” Sisodia told ANI here.

The AAP leader’s reaction came after the Congress released the first list of its 24 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections.

Not involved in any campaign film of PM: Amitabh Bachchan

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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today said he is not associated with any ad film of the Narendra Modi government.

There were reports that the 72-year-old actor would feature in a TV ad which seeks to ask Indians to rise above religion for inclusive development.

Bachchan took to micro-blogging site Twitter to set the record straight.

“The news by media that PM and PMO have asked me to be involved in a campaign film, is incorrect! Kindly rectify… Thank you!,” he tweeted.

AirAsia crash: Plane landed safely on water before sinking?

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The AirAsia flight QZ8501 that met with disaster over the Java Sea on its way from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore Sunday, may have made a safe landing on water before being consumed by high waves, amid a raging storm, experts say.

The Daily Mirror reported Thursday, citing aviation experts, that the absence of any crash transmission data meant that the experienced former air force pilot Captain Irianto might have executed a perfect emergency landing on sea.

NIA registers case to probe recent Assam attacks

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NIA has registered a criminal case in connection with the killing of more than 70 tribals by NDFB(S) militants in two districts of Assam.

National Investigation Agency (NIA), officials said, took congisance of four cases registered in this context by Assam Police in the two districts of Sonitpur and Kokrajhar.

The central agency took over the case after the Union Home Ministry asked it to probe the cases as Assam government recommended investigation of these killings by NIA.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s sales drop by 8.3 percent in December

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Automobile maker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Thursday reported a decline of 8.3 percent in its total sales in the month of December.

Compared to December 2013’s sales figure of 39,611 units, the company sold 36,328 units in December 2014.

Although its sales in the passenger vehicles segment rose by 5 percent for the same time period, overall domestic sales fell by 6.56 percent as well as its exports which registered a decline of 31.57 percent.

The sales figure of passenger vehicles stood at 17,311 units, compared to 16,436 units in December 2013.

How to bring up jihadi children, book explains

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How do you create an army of fighters dedicated to mindless brutalities and owing unquestioned allegiance to the jihadi ideology?

Virulent terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) apparently have an answer to this, and for them, training in the jihadi doctrine and in violence must start early in one’s life, according to a guidebook that has surfaced online.

Campbell appointed managing director of Zimbabwe Cricket

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Former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell has been appointed managing director of the country’s cricket board with incumbent Wilfred Mukondiwa redeployed to a new role.

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase confirmed the 42-year-old’s appointment Wednesday.

“The changes are continuous. As you know, following the appointment of Dav Whatmore, we are also searching for a batting coach before the World Cup,” Manase was quoted as saying by sport24.co.za Wednesday.

Campbell was previously chief selector and later chairperson of the body’s cricket committee.

No change in petrol, diesel prices

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There will be no change in the prices of petrol and diesel despite an indication earlier Thursday that these would be reduced. However, jet fuel (ATF) rates have been cut by a steep 12.5 percent with international oil prices continuing to plunge going below $55 a barrel.

The price cut on transport fuels that consumers were expecting on New Year’s Day has not been effected for the moment, an IOC source said.

The source said that owing to some problems with the server, dates and data were being reflected erroneously earlier Thursday on the company’s website, which has now been rectified.

Jet fuel, non-subsidized-LPG rates cut sharply

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In major relief for the country’s beleaguered airlines industry, jet fuel (ATF) rates were Thursday cut by a steep 12.5 percent with international oil prices continuing to plunge going below $55 a barrel.

However, there was no reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel, as was indicated earlier in the day.

The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, at Delhi was cut by Rs.7,520.52 per kilolitre, or 12.5 percent, to Rs.52,422.92 per kl, state-run Indian Oil Corp announced.

BSE to suspend trading in securities of 22 companies

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The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Thursday said it will suspend trading in securities of 22 companies.

According to the BSE, pursuant to directions received from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), as a surveillance measure trading in the securities of these companies will be suspended.

The suspension will take effect from Jan 7, 2015.

(IANS)

Rahane, Ashwin in fray to become Kohli’s deputy

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The sudden decision of Mahendra Singh Dhoni to retire from Test cricket has also given rise to a question as to who will be Virat Kohli’s deputy with the names of Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin emerging as possible candidates.

“It will be interesting to see what is the choice of selection committee led by Sandeep Patil and the feedback that they get from Team Director Ravi Shastri. Ravi’s point of view will be key in this regard. As of now, the two players who are in with a chance are Rahane and Ashwin,” a BCCI source in the know of things told PTI today.

India welcomes 2015 with parties, prayers, charity

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India embraced the New Year with boisterous midnight revelry and religious devotion Thursday. The celebrations however left two people dead in Hyderabad.

In virtually every major city and town, people — mostly the young — welcomed 2015 with music and dancing. As the clock struck 12 midnight, firecrackers went off and motorists honked their horns.

Indoor parties raged through the night — at homes, in pubs and hotels. Hundreds of thousands of SMS greetings clogged the mobile network at night.

Unnecessary hype created on grant of bail to Lakhvi: Pak

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Pakistan today said it was vigorously pursuing the 2008 Mumbai attack case and described as “unfortunate” the “hype” created on grant of bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the deadly assault.

“The case is sub-judice. It is unfortunate that an unnecessary hype was created on grant of bail to Lakhvi. These are legal matters and media trials serve no purpose. We should wait for the outcome of the case. The case is progressing well,” Foreign Office (FO) spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

AAP takes measures to avert attacks on Kejriwal

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In order to avert attacks on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, the party has taken several steps, including placing its volunteers near the podium and cordoning off the area, to maintain a safe distance between the stage and the audience.

Last week, a youth in his 20s, attempted to attack the former Delhi Chief Minister when he was addressing a jan sabha at Tigdi in Deoli assembly constituency.

Party’s Deoli candidate Prakash Jarwal had placed party volunteers near the stage so that no outsider or suspecting element could come near the podium.

824 killed in bomb attacks across Pakistan in 2014

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At least 824 people were killed and 2,339 others injured in 372 bomb attacks, including 26 suicide bombings, across Pakistan during 2014, according to official statistics.

The suicide attacks killed 249 people and left 582 wounded in different areas of the country last year, Xinhua reported citing the official data. In 2014, the number of suicide attacks dropped by 34 percent from the year 2013 when 39 suicide blasts took place.

Modi to launch Delhi poll campaign Jan 10, BJP to counter AAP

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will Jan 10 formally kick off the BJP’s campaign for the Delhi assembly elections while the state unit plans an “aggressive” fight against the Aam Aadmi Party in the run-up to the polls, a party leader said Thursday.

“Modi will launch the election campaign in Delhi amid the presence of party president Amit Shah at a gathering of over a lakh people at Ramlila ground on Jan 10,” Bhartiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit spokesman Harish Khurana told IANS.

“He (Modi) is the captain of our team and we depend on him for our campaign,” he added.

South Africa charged up for third Test against Windies

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South Africa coach Russell Domingo says the frustrating draw in Port Elizabeth has ensured his players are hyped-up for the third Test against the West Indies starting at Newlands here Friday.

Domingo says the New Year Test is the “marquee event” of the summer and is a match the players relish playing in, reports sport24.co.za.

“I’m not expecting any drawbacks (from drawn Test),” Domingo said.

British PM urges voters to back his economic plan

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British Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday used his New Year message to urge voters to stick to his economic plan in the 2015 general elections.

Focusing on the economic agenda, Cameron’s New Year video message was recorded against the backdrop of a factory workshop, with the prime minister speaking in front of a team of workers busying themselves on an assembly line, Xinhua reported.

“Britain has a choice: Between the competence that has got us this far, or the chaos of giving it up, going backwards and taking huge risks,” Cameron told British voters.

986 motorists booked in Delhi on New Year’s Eve

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A staggering 986 motorists were issued tickets in Delhi for violating traffic norms during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, police said Thursday.

The traffic police prosecuted 608 motorists – including 305 car drivers, 402 motorbike riders and 21 riders of other vehicles – for drunken driving and action was taken against 54 others for dangerous driving.

A traffic police officer said that 532 motorists were prosecuted in 2014, 489 in 2013, 418 in 2012 and 346 in 2011 for drunken driving.

First swine flu case of 2015 reported in Delhi

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Delhi reported the year’s first case of swine flu, taking the figure to 39 since last year, health official said.

According to the health department, a 40-year-old woman from Bawana in northwest Delhi was confirmed of suffering from swine flu.

“Her samples were sent to the National Center for Disease Control and it was confirmed that she has been affected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus,” Charan Singh, an officer at the Delhi health department, told IANS.

The patient has been admitted to Maharishi Valmiki Government Hospital in the area.

Pope Francis calls for peace in first 2015 tweet

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Pope Francis called Thursday for peace in his first tweet of 2015, before officiating at a mass at the Vatican dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

“How many innocent people and children suffer in the world! Lord, grant us your peace!” the Pontiff wrote on his official Twitter account.

The Pope’s account, which was created two years ago during the time of Pope Benedict XVI, is available in several languages and reached 17 million followers in December.

(IANS/EFE)

Anti-terror plan will destroy terrorism: Pakistan PM

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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Thursday that the National Action Plan that is being implemented will destroy terrorism in the country.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review legal aspects of the anti-terrorism National Action Plan (NAP), Sharif emphasised that no one could remain neutral in the war against terrorism.

“The country’s civil and military leadership is united against terrorism and militancy,” The News International quoted Sharif as saying.